The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands, the presence of hair or fur; specialized teeth; the presence of a neocortex region in the brain; and endothermic or 'warm-blooded' bodies. The brain regulates endothermic and circulatory system, including a four-chambered heart. In India there are 410 species, 186 genera, 45 families and 13 orders of which nearly 89 species are listed as threatened in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Animals (IUCN 2006).

The sambar (Rusa unicolor) is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent. Sambar are found in habitats ranging from tropical dry forests, tropical seasonal forests, subtropical mixed forests (conifers, broadleaf deciduous, broadleaf evergreen tree species) to tropical rain forests. They are seldom found far from water. They are hardy animals, ranging from sea level up to 3500 metres (11500 ft) in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU) Photo: Drriss and Marrionn