The Common Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), also called the Red Muntjac, Indian Muntjac and most memorably the Barking deer is the most common species of the deer family in Thailand. It is found throughout the country as well as throughout asia. Thailand has it own sub-species, named Muntiacus muntjak curvostylis.

The common name of barking deer is quite apt as when it senses a predator or danger, including humans walking in the forest, it will send out a warning call to others that sounds like a high pitched bark. Indeed, if you hear one bark in the forest it is important to consider if its barking at you, someone else or a predator.

As with all wild deer, it is a very cautious animal and can be seen on the forest margins especially at dusk and sunrise, systematically deciding if there are dangers around. They are a major prey species for tiger and leopard in those parks and sanctuaries that still have the larger feline predators in Thailand.

The dry season is a very good time to see them as they will also be quite active in the day, especially at water sources.

In the centre of Khao Yai National Park they are commonly spotted and indeed there are both barking deer and sambar deer that are semi tame in the centre of the park. These photographs show animals in Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary venturing out of forest cover to find water in the late afternoon, unaware they are being observed from a blind concealed behind the opposite tree line.

kingdom Animalia - animals » phylum Chordata - chordates » class Mammalia - mammals » order Artiodactyla - even-toed ungulates » family Cervidae - Deer and Moose » genus Muntiacus » species Muntiacus muntjak (curvostylis)