At dawn on a sunny winter morning, wild Spotted Deer herd hunt for breakfast. There are Langurs (monkeys) on the trees that work mutually with the deer to avoid predators - deer have eyes on the sides while langurs have front facing eyes

            The chital or cheetal (Axis axis; /tʃiːtəl/), also known as the spotted deer, chital deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first described and given a binomial name by German naturalist Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. A moderate-sized deer, male chital reach 90 cm (35 in) and females 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder. While males weigh 70–90 kg (150–200 lb), females weigh around 40–60 kg (88–132 lb). It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.
The chital is a moderately sized deer. Males reach up to 90–100 cm (35–39 in) and females 65–75 cm (26–30 in) at the shoulder; the head-and-body length is around 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in). While immature males weigh 30–75 kg (66–165 lb), the lighter females weigh 25–45 kg (55–99 lb). Mature stags can weigh up to 98–110 kg (216–243 lb).
The tail, 20 cm (7.9 in) long, is marked by a dark stripe that stretches along its length. The species is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males.
The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The western limit of its range is eastern Rajasthan and Gujarat; its northern limit is throughout the Terai and northern West Bengal, Sikkim to western Assam and forested valleys in Bhutan below an elevation of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). It also occurs in the Sundarbans and some ecoparks around the Bay of Bengal, but is locally extinct in central and north-eastern Bangladesh. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka are the southern limits of its distribution. It sporadically occur in forested areas throughout the Indian peninsula.
Chital are active throughout the day. In the summer, time is spent in rest under shade, and the sun's glare is avoided if the temperature reaches 80 °F (27 °C); activity peaks as dusk approaches. As days grow cooler, foraging begins before sunrise and peaks by early morning. Activity slows down during midday, when the animals rest or loiter about slowly. Foraging recommences by late afternoon and continues till midnight. They fall asleep a few hours before sunrise, typically in the forest which is cooler than the glades. These deer typically move in a single file on specific tracks, with a distance of two to three times their width between them, when on a journey, typically in search of food and water sources. A study in the Gir National Park (Gujarat, India) showed that chital travel the most in summer of all seasons. 
Semnopithecus is a genus of Old World monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent, with all species with the exception of two being commonly known as gray langurs. Traditionally only one species Semnopithecus entellus was recognized, but since about 2001, additional species have been recognized. The taxonomy has been in flux, but currently eight species are recognized.
Members of the genus Semnopithecus are terrestrial, inhabiting forest, open lightly wooded habitats, and urban areas on the Indian subcontinent. Most species are found at low to moderate altitudes, but the Nepal gray langur and Kashmir gray langur occur up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in the Himalayas. R_39099
   

Taken in: India / Karnataka / Sankada Katte (show map)

Taken on: December 9, 2023

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Sets appears in: • winter • December more » • 2023 • canon R6 • canon RF100-500L • deer • India • Langur monkey • Nagarhole National Park • Video on Flickr and Youtube « less

Groups appears in: • Canon R6 • Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (No 30/60 Limit)

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