A first: Camera trap captures sambar deer in Kalatop-Khajjiar sanctuary in Chamba district

The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has recorded the presence of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in high-altitude protected areas of Chamba district through camera traps for the first time — a significant finding as the species is typically associated with the lower Shivalik hills and moist deciduous forests.

Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Chamba, Kuldeep Singh Jamwal, said the recordings highlight changing wildlife movement patterns and the ecological importance of the district’s protected forests. The finding has also been published in the quarterly edition of the Records of the Zoological Survey of India journal in February.

“We have documented sambar presence in Kalatop–Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary and Gamgul Wildlife Sanctuary. This suggests that the species may be expanding its range into the higher Himalayas to find safer habitat,” he said.

While the average elevation of Kalatop–Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary is more than 2500 metres, the Gamgul Wildlife Sanctuary lies at elevations above 3,000 metres.

Jamwal said the presence of sambar at such heights can be attributed to the sanctuary’s dense coniferous forests, perennial water sources and relatively undisturbed habitat, which provide a safe haven for large herbivores.

The camera trap images captured adult and sub-adult males visiting a waterhole, with activity mostly recorded during evening and night hours.

He said a particularly unique aspect of the finding in Kalatop–Khajjiar is that three different deer species — sambar deer, musk deer and barking deer — are now being found in the same landscape, despite them typically being associated with different habitats.

Sambar is the largest deer species in South Asia and plays a crucial ecological role as a primary herbivore. It also serves as an important prey species for large carnivores such as leopards and tigers. However, habitat loss, hunting and fragmentation of forests have caused population declines in several regions. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Officials say the new records indicate either an undetected resident population or a gradual range expansion linked to ecological connectivity with nearby forest tracts in the Dalhousie Forest Division

Chamba district has nearly 985 square kilometres of protected forest area, including Kalatop–Khajjiar, Kugti, Tundah, Sechu Tuan Nala and Gamgul wildlife sanctuaries, which collectively support diverse Himalayan wildlife.

First camera sighting of brown bear in Gamgul Sanctuary

• In another major wildlife monitoring achievement, the Forest Department has recorded a Himalayan brown bear through a camera trap in the Gamgul Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Jamwal said this is the first time the elusive species has been captured on a camera trap in the sanctuary, although its presence had been indicated earlier through field signs and local reports.
• The Himalayan brown bear is known from areas around Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary in Bharmour area and Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary in Pangi area of the district.