Identification:
This subspecies is small in size, with a slender body, and weighs no more than 30 kg. The coat color is tawny, with a white belly, similar to other subspecies of the Southern Red Muntjac. It differs from the black-footed and yellow-footed muntjacs by having yellow legs, with a distinct white stripe between the hooves. The tail is short.
Biology and Ecology:
The Southern Red Muntjac exhibits the typical biological and ecological characteristics of the species. Its diet consists of leaves, fruits, and grass. Breeding seasons occur twice a year, from January to March and from June to August. The gestation period is 180-200 days. One offspring is born per litter, with very rare instances of two. They typically inhabit open forests, areas around fields, hills with trees, and grasslands with bushes. They prefer bright, airy, dry habitats near the forest edge and do not remain in one place for extended periods. They are nocturnal, active from dusk until near dawn. Individual home ranges are small, typically 1-2 km². They live solitary lives, forming pairs only during the mating season.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Kontum, Lam Dong (Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park), Dong Nai (Cat Tien National Park), Binh Phuoc (Bu Gia Map National Park).
- World: Laos, Cambodia.
Value:
This subspecies is endemic to Indochina. The Southern Red Muntjac is relatively easy to raise and can be domesticated for conservation purposes in zoos, national parks, nature reserves, and ecotourism areas.
Conservation Status:
The population of the Southern Red Muntjac in Sa Thay, Cat Tien, and other areas is small. They are often trapped and hunted alongside other muntjac subspecies, leading to a continuous decline in their numbers. They have been listed in the Vietnam Red Book (1992, 2000) as Vulnerable (VU).
IUCN Classification:
VU A1c,d C1.
Conservation Measures:
Listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Because the Southern Red Muntjac often coexists with other muntjac subspecies, there are currently no specific regulations prohibiting hunting, trapping, or trade. Therefore, there is a need to ban hunting of muntjacs in the Sa Thay and Lang Bian areas to conserve the gene pool and to allow semi-natural rearing within national parks and nature reserves.