Doe: a deer, a dancing deer of Horton Plains

Sri Lankan Sambar Deer
Horton Plains National Park

Fun Facts
When you see Sri Lankan sambar dancing around, they aren’t communicating a secret message via scent marking and foot stamping, but simply playing in the rain! Prancing around the hills – a fun dance number of antlers, hooves, and legs – these dancing queens and kings are the most frequent sightings of wildlife at Horton Plains National Park.

Lesser-known Facts
When sparring (a dance battle!) with rival males, sambar lock antlers and push, like other deer, but uniquely, they also sometimes stand on their hind legs and clash downward into each other. Females also fight on their hind legs and use their forelegs to hit each other on the head as a grand finale!

Whereabouts
Watch them in the wet lowlands, hill country and the mid-hills, throughout Yala, Udawalawe, Wilpattu, Horton Plains, Kumana, and Sri Pada Peak Wilderness Sanctuary.