Indian muntjac Indian muntjac The Indian muntjac ("Muntiacus muntjak"), also called Southern red muntjac and barking deer, is a deer species native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This muntjac has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair, sometimes with creamy markings. It is among the smallest deer species. It is an omnivore and eats grass, fruit, shoots, seeds, bird eggs and small animals, and occasionally scavenges on carrion. Its calls sound like barking, often when frightened by a predator and hence the common name "barking deer". Males have canines, short antlers that
Reeves's muntjac from 209 to 220 days. Females limit the number of mating bouts, though time between successive bouts is determined by males (known as "bucks"). Reeves's muntjacs were introduced to the grounds of Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire in the 19th century by the then Duke of Bedford. While a small number reportedly escaped, they are extremely unlikely to be the source of the current UK population. Larger numbers of Reeves's muntjac escaped from Whipsnade Zoo, and they are the more likely ancestors, in addition to other releases. Since the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it has been illegal to release the