In 1965 there were eleven populations of the already declining northern race of the swamp deer in Uttar Pradesh, in northern India; by 1972 eight of these had disappeared, either through habitat destruction, such as the planting of eucalyptus and cultivation, crop-protection shooting or poaching. Probably only the fact that the meat is tough and the skin poor have saved the deer from disappearing completely in the state. The author describes a brief survey he made in the summer of 1972, estimates numbers and status, describes the threats, and lists the immediate needs for a conservation programme. The author is Staff Ecologist with IUCN.