Sambar (Cervus unicolor)

"The speed of a sambar is very moderate, and if found on ground where riding is possible, a rare event, any fairly good horse with a rider of moderate weight can catch either stag or hind. All species of Cervus, I believe, can be ridden down without much difficulty. I have heard of both spotted and hog deer being speared in favourable localities. Sambar are usually driven by beaters, or stalked, but in Ceylon it was at one time the practice to hunt them with deer-hounds and kill them with a knife, as described in Sir S. Baker's 'Rifle and Hound in Ceylon.' They are very tenacious of life, and often take several bullets before they fall. The flesh of the sambar is coarse, but well-flavoured, the marrow-bones and tongue being usually retained by sportsmen for themselves ; but as most Hindoos will eat deer with antlers, the meat is seldom wasted in India, as that of wild cattle and pigs often is. (Blanford 1888)."

Rights Holder: India Biodiversity Portal