Also known as chital or spotted deer, the axis deer (Axis axis) is a medium‑sized deer recognised by its reddish‑brown coat covered in white spots that persist year‑round. Males are larger than females, standing 75–100 cm at the shoulder and weighing 65–85 kg, while females weigh 45–55 kg. Only bucks grow antlers, which have three tines and reach 75–85 cm in length. Axis deer have been introduced to estates and islands in Croatia and other parts of Europe, where their beauty and wary nature have made them a prized exotic trophy.
In Europe, axis deer are typically hunted by spot‑and‑stalk or from high seats overlooking meadows and forest edges. During the rut, which can occur at any time of year but peaks in spring and early summer, vocal stags roar and gather mixed herds of does and fawns. Hunters glass feeding areas at dawn and dusk, then quietly stalk to within range as deer feed on grasses or browse leaves. Because axis deer are dependent on water and drink daily, ambushes near water sources can also be productive. Shooting distances are often modest in European forests, though longer shots may be required on open pastures.
In their native India axis deer are abundant, but introduced populations require careful management to prevent overgrazing and hybridisation. European estates control numbers through selective culling and maintain genetic purity by separating axis herds from fallow and sika deer. Hunting provides funding for habitat maintenance and fence upkeep, ensuring that these exotics do not escape into surrounding ecosystems. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the chital as a species of Least Concern, though local declines have occurred where habitats have been converted to agriculture.
Axis deer are social and often form herds of 10–30 individuals, although groups of hundreds may gather in good habitat. They communicate with high‑pitched barks when alarmed and raise their white‑tipped tails as a flag when fleeing. Axis deer frequently associate with troops of Hanuman langur monkeys, feeding on fruits and leaves dropped from the trees. Their spotted coats provide excellent camouflage against dappled sunlight, making them difficult to see even at close range.
Axis Deer (Chital) can be found in the following location:
Axis Deer (Chital) has the following variations:
- (Varieties to be confirmed)
