Conservation status, crop damage and distribution of the Hog Deer (Axis porcinus Zimmermann, 1780) in Galle District, Sri Lanka

The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus), critically endangered and the rarest deer species in Sri Lanka, is confined to a small region between the Bentota and Gin rivers in the Galle District. Despite its restricted range, the species faces significant threats, including habitat loss and crop damage, primarily to cinnamon plants (Cinnamomum verum). A year-long study from 2021 to 2022 recorded 306 adult Hog Deer and 22 fawns, with 175 confirmed locations documented through surveys of 246 participants across seven divisional secretariats. Additionally, 27 injured or disabled individuals were reported, highlighting the species' precarious conservation status. While crop damage was noted, it was minimal for cinnamon, suggesting other factors may be more critical to their survival. The findings underscore the urgent need for community-based and institutional conservation efforts to protect this species in its last stronghold.

Madhushanka, S., & Ranawana, K. B. (2025). Conservation status, crop damage and distribution of the Hog Deer (Axis porcinus Zimmermann, 1780) in Galle District, Sri Lanka. University of Colombo Review, 6(1), 4–23. https://doi.org/10.4038/ucr.v6i1.181