Water Monitor Varanus salvator> predation on a Hog Deer <Axis porcinus fawn at Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

Authors

  • Saurav Kumar Boruah House no 29, M.L. Baruah Road, Silpukhuri, Guwahati, Assam 781003, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8286-5603
  • Luku Ranjan Nath Narengi Kenduguri, Guwahati, Assam 781026, India.
  • Shisukanta Nath Kaziranga Tourism Trade Welfare Society, Kohora, Assam 785609, India.
  • Nilutpal Mahanta House no 29, M.L. Baruah Road, Silpukhuri, Guwahati, Assam 781003, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9805.17.10.27782-27784

Keywords:

Carnivorous reptile, distress call, Monitor Lizard, predator, scavenger

Abstract

On the evening of 5th April 2023, a team of wildlife photographers and researchers witnessed an event of Asian water monitor Varanus salvator, (Laurenti, 1768) praying on a hog deer (Axis porcinus) fawn which has never been reported earlier. Monitor lizards is a predator with wide range of food guild including fishes, crabs, turtles amphibians, reptiles, fishes, birds and small mammals. Incidence of praying on a hog deer fawn is an important observation and worth documentation.

Author Biographies

Saurav Kumar Boruah, House no 29, M.L. Baruah Road, Silpukhuri, Guwahati, Assam 781003, India.

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Luku Ranjan Nath, Narengi Kenduguri, Guwahati, Assam 781026, India.

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Shisukanta Nath, Kaziranga Tourism Trade Welfare Society, Kohora, Assam 785609, India.

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Nilutpal Mahanta, House no 29, M.L. Baruah Road, Silpukhuri, Guwahati, Assam 781003, India.

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Published

26-10-2025

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