Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...

Javan rusa
Male and female at Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Cervidae
Subfamily:	Cervinae
Genus:	Rusa
Species:	R. timorensis[2]
Binomial name
Rusa timorensis[2] (Blainville, 1822)
Present distribution within the native range, including possible ancient introductions
Synonyms
List Cervus celebensis Rorig, 1896 Cervus hippelaphus G.Q. Cuvier, 1825 [preoccupied] Cervus lepidus Sundevall, 1846 Cervus moluccensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1830 Cervus peronii Cuvier, 1825 Cervus russa Muller & Schlegel, 1845 Cervus tavistocki Lydekker, 1900 Cervus timorensis Blainville, 1822 Cervus timorensis ssp. rusa Muller & Schlegel, 1845 Cervus tunjuc Horsfield, 1830 [nomen nudum]

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The Javan rusa or Sunda sambar (Rusa timorensis) is a large deer species native to Indonesia and East Timor. Introduced populations exist in a wide variety of locations in the Southern Hemisphere.

Seven subspecies of the Javan rusa are recognised:^[2]

• R. t. timorensis (Timor rusa deer) – Timor.
• R. t. djonga – Muna and Butung Islands.
• R. t. floresiensis (Flores rusa deer) – Flores and other islands.
• R. t. macassaricus (Celebes rusa deer) – Sulawesi.
• R. t. moluccensis (Moluccan rusa deer) – Maluku Islands.
• R. t. renschi – Bali.
• R. t. russa (Javan rusa deer) – Java.

The Javan rusa is dark blackish brown and has a gray forehead. Its back is almost black, the underparts and inner thighs are yellowish brown. The abdomen is lighter brown, and the tail tuft is dark blackish brown. The hair is coarse and longer on the chest than on the remaining body. Its ears are wide and a little shorter than the head. The antlers are medium long and rather wide, the upper branch points forward.^[3] Fawns are born without spots. Males are bigger than females; head-to-body length varies from 142 to 185 cm (4 ft 8 in to 6 ft 1 in), with a 20 cm (7.9 in) tail. Males weigh 152–160 kg (335–353 lb), female about 74 kg (163 lb).^[4]

The Javan rusa natively occurs on the islands of Java, Bali and Timor in Indonesia. It has been introduced to Irian Jaya, Borneo, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, Sulawesi, Pohnpei, Mauritius, Réunion, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, the Christmas Island, the Cocos Islands, Nauru, Mainland Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, New Britain, and New Ireland.^[1][5] The Javan rusa was introduced by the Dutch to New Guinea in the early 1900s.^[6]

Since its introduction to the West Papuan lowlands, the species has become widely dispersed and is common in much of its new range. However its population in its native range has declined markedly by approximately 10,000 individuals in the past two decades and likely faces further decline. As a result it has been listed as vulnerable in its native range and was declared as a protected species under Indonesian law in 2018.^[7]

During the 1980s and 1990s, protected areas such as national parks were used to control poaching and the effects of land conversion that destroyed grazing areas. However large numbers of Javan rusa died in Baluran National Park in Indonesia due to the loss of grazing area as a result of the invasive thorny acacia.^[8]

Javan rusa are nocturnal, although they do graze during the day.^[8] They are rarely seen in the open and are very difficult to approach due to their keen senses and cautious instincts.

The rusa deer is often found in small groups or pairs, although males are often seen alone.^[7] When alarmed, a rusa stag lets out an extremely loud honk. This is an alarm call and alerts any other deer in the vicinity.^{[citation needed]}

As with other deer species, Javan rusa mainly feed on grass, leaves, and fallen fruit. Most of their fluid requirements are met by the food they consume, so they hardly drink water.^[8]