Rare White Sambar Deer Spotted for the First Time in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

In a landmark discovery, a white sambar deer was captured on camera within the Sangama range of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, thanks to the efforts of renowned Wildlife biologist and Conservationist Dr. Sanjay Gubbi and his team. Their primary mission was to study leopards in the area.

This significant sighting represents the first photographic evidence of a white sambar deer, also known as a leucistic sambar deer, within this particular landscape. It's worth noting that a similar white sambar deer was previously documented in Bandipur Tiger Reserve in 2014.

This remarkable find featured a female sambar deer, which was spotted in the company of another adult female sambar. This has led experts to speculate that the white deer might be a sub-adult individual, potentially accompanied by its mother.

Leucism, the condition responsible for the white appearance of this sambar deer, results from a lack of pigmentation in the animal's skin, resulting in pale skin.

Dr. Sanjay Gubbi emphasized the significance of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, describing it as a hidden treasure. He noted that the sanctuary has previously yielded surprises in terms of wildlife discoveries, including the first photographic record of a honey badger for Karnataka and the southernmost limit of gray wolves' range in India.

Furthermore, camera traps in the area recently captured an image of a partial albino dhole, adding yet another layer of fascination to this diverse landscape. Dr. Gubbi emphasized the importance of conserving such a unique and ecologically rich environment, asserting that data like the photograph of the leucistic sambar deer can provide valuable insights into the biology and ecology of these herbivores.

The sighting of a white sambar deer within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary represents a significant milestone in the field of wildlife research, further underscoring the sanctuary's importance as a hub of biodiversity and conservation

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