Chital, Rajasthan (#26 in “a shining moment” series)

 

Widely regarded as the loveliest deer, the chital has a connection to the cheetah; it is not a predator-prey connection…in the present, at least.

Axis axis was also, in 1803, the very first deer species to be introduced to Australia.

The chital is one of the island continent’s longest-established feral animals.

Chitals have been introduced to many lands.

In Hawaii they are a major pest; they are a pest in Australia too, but a relatively minor one.

Australians also call them Axis deer.

Chitals’ native place is the Indian subcontinent, where they are also known as spotted deer.

They are tigers’ favourite food, but many species hunt chitals.

Presumably, Asiatic cheetahs once did so, but – ably assisted by local Maharajahs – India’s British colonisers had wiped out India’s cheetahs by the middle of last century.

By name, however, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus – Asiatic cheetah – (also now named “Persian cheetah” or “Iranian cheetah”, after their remaining, not-so-strong stronghold) and Axis axis are still connected, via the Sanskrit and Hindi words at the root of their common names.

Rendered into English script, the Sanskrit word citrala and the Hindi word cital, both mean “spotted” or “variegated”, and the first syllable of chital is pronounced exactly as is the chee in cheetah.

Discover much more about chitals here.

For an Australian perspective, click this.

Only male chitals have antlers. This post’s image (copyright Doug Spencer) shows a young male, just as the morning mist was lifting, on 05 February 2020.

The (incredible) location, in eastern Rajasthan, a short drive from Agra, is the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – the prime destination within Keoladeo National Park.

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Today’s deer-inspired music is a glorious, finger style acoustic guitar piece, performed absolutely solo, “live”, in 1976, by its Canadian author.

If Bruce Cockburn (born1945)  is new to you, welcome to one of the finer living lyricists.

He still writes potent, pointed songs.

Cockburn is equally rewarding when his guitar does all of the singing.