Barasingha The Mascot Of Kanha

'Can you identify the animal in the picture below?

'Yes, it is a deer.'

'Which deer?'

'Don't know.'

'It is a Barasingha. Have you seen it?'

'Oh yes, I have seen it in a zoo', is the common response. Was it your response too?

Well, Ghumakkad takes you to the swamps of Kanha, where Barasinghas thrive. Barasingha is the official mascot of Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh India.

Why this name?

Barasingha means 'having twelve antlers'. This deer species found in the Indian sub-continent, has twelve or more antlers. An antler is a bony mass with sharp ends which grow from the front of the head of a male deer. See the picture below of a Barasingha taken in Kanha.

The Coat

Barasingha males have a woolly coat yellowish brown in colour. In summer, the coat becomes bright rufous-brown. Females are paler than males. The males blend with the grassland around the swamps and can only be spotted with their antlers jutting out of the grass. See the picture below.

The Food

Barasinghas live in herds and feed on aquatic plants and algae. We saw them grazing in the morning around the swamps at a distance. See the pictures taken against the morning Sun. But the scene had its own charm. You don't always visit a forest for a good shot, but just to soak in its freshness, silence, whisper of the cool breeze, the scent of the jungle and an occasional call of a deer or a langur indicating the presence of a tiger somewhere around.

Population

According to Wikipedia, the total population of Barasingha in India is estimated to be between 3,500 and 5,100. It is found in three regions of India: Central, Northeast, and Northern India. 

More from Kanha

Sharing below few more animals spotted in Kanha. They are all part of the food chain.

Mutualism

We also observed a common mynah taking a joyride on a Barasingha. See the picture below.

This behaviour is common among many animal and bird species. According to the Encyclopedia of Ecology, Mutualism is defined as an interaction between individuals of different species that results in positive (beneficial) effects on per capita reproduction and/or survival of the interacting populations. You may browse our earlier story titled 'Mutualism by Nature' for details. Sharing below few pictures from that story.

Cattle Egrets and Mynahs with Buffaloes. PC Yella Prakash Rao

Black Drongo with a Sheep. PC Umesh Mani Chennai

A cormorant riding a tortoise

Nature continues to amaze if you have the patience to observe. Do take a walk in a garden, park, jungle or if you have the time, go on a hike in a forest. It is sure to rejuvenate you and recharge your life's batteries.

We are sharing below the links to our other three stories on Kanha and the life around the forest.

Python Preservation by a Village near Kanha

Lakshmi The Tigress Teacher - How she teaches her cubs to cross a muddy path

Tigress Shirmilee - Who defies her name

We were four of us who visited Kanha and Pench in January 2025. CP and Manik Srivastavas from Hyderabad, Debashish Mukherjee (Debu) from Kolkata and Ghumakkad also from Hyderabad, can be seen on the Safari vehicle at the breakfast spot in Kanha. Thanks are due to Debu and CP for sharing their pictures.

Hope you got a glimpse of the beauty of a forest, its flora and fauna. As Rudyard Kipling said, 'In the jungle, life and food depend upon keeping your temper'. We should respect the residents of the jungle. They have the right of way!

Thanks for browsing

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad(Kanha  Jan 2025)/ Posted 28th March 2025

#kanhanationalpark #kanhathemascot #barasingha #swampdeer #bhoorsingh #antlers #MPTourism #wildlife #wildlifephotography #madhyapradesh #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #wwfindia