By Team Mangalorean
Pics: Rajesh Shetty

Mangalore July 28, 2009: A Mouse Deer (Tragulus meminna) an endangered species, locally known as 'Barinka' gave birth to a female calf in Dr. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Biological Park in Mangalore on 23 July.

Christened as ‘Kinni’ the cute cub sat beside its proud but very timid mother ‘Ponnu’ when Mangaloren.com took a closer look. According to the game warden of the Dr. Shivarama Karanth Biological Park, Mr. Jayaprakash Bhandary, this is the first incident of captive breeding of Mouse Deer. They are very shy and nocturnal, but in the recent years hunting and poaching has pushed them into the endangered list.

They are found in the fringe areas of forests and are slow movers which makes them easy prey to the predators. Foxes, Jackals, Hayenas are predators, even domestic and wild dogs attack them for food, says Mr. Bhandary.

Ponnu had been in captivity in the Park for over eighteen months and only has reached the heat only during last six months, “We were not hopeful of her giving birth in captivity but Ponnu has proved us wrong,” says Mr. Bhandary.
 
This animal close relative to Deer family was seen in the Western ghats fringe areas. According to Mr.Bhandary several Zoological parks around the country, mainly in Southern India, Zoo authorities have stepped up efforts for captive breeding of Mouse deer. Hyderabad zoo has been given a project for breeding Mouse Deer by the Central Zoo Authority. 

Mr. Bhandary says the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama has already successfully captive bred the black buck which was brought from Rajasthan, Tigers, Panthers, King Cobra, Barking deer and many types of snakes. It could be recalled here that the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama became the only captive breeding centre for giant King Cobras in the country. It was initially looked after by the international expert on King Cobras Mr. Roger Whittaker.

The park has entered into an exchange programme for King Cobra with the parks that are in the non breeding areas of King Cobra elsewhere in India. To feed the King Cobra the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama has also set up a rat breeding centre.