Open AccessA Behavioural Study of Free Ranging Ceylon Spotted Deer (Axis axis ceylonensis) in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Author(s) -
Kalpphana Gowrithasan,
Ahamed Muhaideen Riyas Ahamed,
Meena Dharmaretnam
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
hayati journal of biosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2086-4094
pISSN - 1978-3019
DOI - 10.4308/hjb.29.1.31-38
Subject(s) - ceylon , subspecies , sri lanka , predation , biology , dusk , ecology , grazing , population , zoology , geography , demography , tanzania , environmental planning , sociology , computer science , programming language
Axis axis ceylonensis (Ceylon spotted deer) is a sub species endemic to Sri Lanka. Ecological observations in wild populations of this subspecies have been reported but there is no published research on its behaviour. We report here a behavioural study on a free ranging population of A. a. ceylonensis inhabiting a temple surroundings in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Behaviour was quantified by focal sampling on sex age groups in three time zones: 6:30 to 7:30, 12:30-13:30, and 17:00 to 18:00 hours. The deer were more active in the hour after dawn and an hour before dusk. The main activities were feeding and play, the latter common in juveniles. There was a preference to graze on grasses and browse on Ficus sp. leaves. Resting was highest in the afternoon across all groups. This bimodal activity pattern is similar to that of both wild Ceylon and Indian A. axis subspecies despite the absence of predators in the study area. The bimodal activity may be related to thermoregulatory functions while grazing in open grass areas.