Spotted Deer Facts | Sri Lanka Wildlife Guide
This distinctive spotted deer is the most common deer species in Sri Lankan forests and is often found in herds of 50 or more. It stands about 35 inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. The curved antlers, which it sheds annually, are usually three-pronged and may be up to 30 inches long. The typical lifespan in the wild is about 10 years, but they can live up to 30 years in captivity. Its main predators are leopards, sloth bears, jackals and humans.
The spotted deer has a prolonged mating season, as the perpetually warm climate allows females to remain fertile and to give birth to fawns any time of year. Due to these tropical conditions, males do not have synchronized antler cycles. The size and hardness of a male’s antlers demonstrate their dominance; those with velvet antlers that are still growing or have no horns at all are unlikely to fight for a female’s attention.
Spotted deer most commonly occur in herds of 10 to 50 individuals, with one or two males and a number of females and young. They primarily eat grasses and vegetation but will also ingest their shed antlers as a source of nutrients
