Ecology and social organization of a tropical deer (Cervus eldi thamin)

Abstract

From 1995 to 1999, we conducted an ecological study of thamin (Cervus eldi thamin) at Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary in central Myanmar; we maintained records on deer sightings and radiotracked 11 adult male and 8 adult female deer. Based on 747 sightings, a 0.63: 1.0 adult male: female ratio and 0.51:1.0 fawn: adult female ratio were observed. Mean group size was variable (1.0-5.9 deer) and showed seasonal differences, with few groups observed in August-September and groups of ≤70 individuals observed in March-April. Based on the fixed-kernel method, annual home range was 9.04 km2 ± 5.67 SD and 7.25 km2 ± 3.45 SD for males and females, respectively. Thamin increased their seasonal home range during the hot-dry season, possibly in response to decreased forage and water availability and increased mating activity. The observed synchrony of estrous onset (March-April) and fawning (October-November) in female thamin is unusual for a tropical cervid species, but reproductive seasonality appears timed to balance fawn survival with doe nutrition in a monsoon environment.