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So celebrate the year-end holidays by getting to know these other ‘deers’.
Lesser MousedeerPhoto credit: Max Khoo
While there were fewer than 50 Lesser Mousedeer in the 1990s, there are now around 160 to 200 living in Singapore. Intensive reforestation and habitat enhancement efforts under the NParks Nature Conservation Masterplan as well as increased capabilities and support from the scientific and nature community are some likely reasons for this increase. By ensuring Nature Reserves are out of bounds from between 7 pm to 7 am also helps to reduce disturbance to the animal and facilitate its foraging after dark.
Greater Mousedeer
Photo credit: Marcus Chua
This nocturnal creature prefers to feed alone on fallen fruits and the soft new leaves of understorey plants and other vegetable matter. While it is widespread in Southeast Asia, in Singapore, it is known only from one offshore island.
Sambar Deer
Photo credit: Bryan Lim
Most active at dusk and at night, it rests among thick vegetation in the day. It lives in small herds and usually communicates by scent marking and foot stamping. Its diet consists of a wide variety of vegetation including grasses, leafy foliage, fruit, water plants, shrubs and trees.
Deer Antlered Phalaenopsis
Photo credit: Charis Chiang
While the genus Phalaenopsis means moth-like, which refers to the flower form, the specific epithet, cornu-cervi, means shaped like a deer’s horn or cornu-cerva. While native to Singapore, it can also be found in other countries in the Southeast Asian region such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines.
Behaviour between Native Species
This also means that it is important not to feed Wild Boars as it may fuel their population number which may then affect the population of other species like the Lesser Mousedeer. This study, part of NParks science-based approach to our work, helps us formulate wildlife management and conservation efforts.
Living in Our City in Nature