Overview
The largest race of Rusa deer with the longest antlers. Males have a well-developed mane on neck and throat. The tail has a thick tuft. Summer coat is a dark, grizzled brown tinged with red. Throat, breast and underparts vary from dirty white to brownish gray, and there is a dark streak on the chest. Inner sides of buttocks and lower legs are dirty white. Chin, lips and inside of ears are whitish. Tail is yellow-brown on top and dirty white beneath, with a blackish tip. In winter, the coat turns grayish-brown with the lighter areas becoming a dirty yellowish-white, and often there is a brown band around the muzzle.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Cervidae
- Genus
- Rusa
Habitat
Javan rusa are found in forests and grasslands in the islands of Southeast Asia, and prefer the forest edge. Distribution- Papua New Guinea: Wild Javan rusa are found from near Port Moresby inland through the Owen Stanley Range as far north as Wau. New Caledonia: There are wild Javan rusa throughout the island. Australia: Free-ranging Javan rusa occur in southeastern New South Wales, generally between Sydney and Eden, and also on Marble Island off the coast of Queensland, northeast of Brisbane. There also are enclosed Javan rusa on some private properties is southeastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales. New Zealand: Wild Javan rusa are found only on North Island, with the main populations located southwest of Rotorua in the Galatea and Waiohau valleys, in the foothills of the Ikawhenua Range, and near the head of the Whakatane River. There also are some small herds near Ruatoki North, Kutarere, Minginui, Ruatahuna, and in the Waimana Basin. There also are enclosed Javan rusa on some private properties.
Diet
This animals both grazes and browses. They feed in open or lightly forested country.
Behavior
Rusa deer are active mostly in the early morning and late afternoon. They are rarely seen in the open and are very difficult to approach due to their keen senses and cautious instincts. When alarmed, a rusa stag lets out an extremely loud honk. This is an alarm call and will alert any other deer in the vicinity. Rusa deer are very sociable and seldom found alone. Javan rusa have a clearly defined rut in June/July, during which the males make a vocal roar with the occasional elk-like whistle. Battles between roaring stags can be vicious, with serious wounds inflicted. In the rut they will “tail” a female. Before and after the rut they gather in small bachelor groups.
Hunting
These animals are so well camouflaged they may sometimes let a person walk right past them. Antlers have been recorded as long as 39 inches, though a mature male will average 33-35 inches. A good representative trophy scores around SCI 145.
Conservation Status
Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN, total population estimated to be under 10,000.