Lim Kwok Wai, Alvina Soh Channel NewsAsia 2 Aug 10;
SINGAPORE : One of the six deer which escaped from the Night Safari last Wednesday has been put to sleep. It had succumbed to heat stroke on Friday.
The rest are doing well, and keepers are keeping a close watch on their health.
Meanwhile, the search continues for the last of the missing deer.
Searchers have stopped sending out big teams as their presence may push the animal further into the forest.
Instead, they are setting up feeding stations with the deer's favourite food, such as grass and fruit, to try to lure it back into a temporary enclosure in the forest.
Mr Kumar Pillai, Director of Zoology, Night Safari, said: "We think the deer could have moved into the forest reserve. What we have done is inform our counterparts in NParks and we have also given them a description of the deer and its ID number."
Search efforts have been hampered by the wet weather over the weekend, the danger of poachers or even another deer from the wild.
Mr Pillai said: "My biggest concern is that if any humans out there would try and catch this animal because this animal is quite used to human beings. I hope nobody will set up traps and snares to try and catch this deer.
"If she gets to pair up with a male, then I don't think she's going to come back to our park. I'll just say she has just introduced some new genes into the wild population."
Five down, one to go...
Last of 6 deer that escaped from Night Safari still missing
Today Online 4 Aug 10;
SINGAPORE - Just over a week after six deer escaped from their Night Safari enclosure, only one has yet to be found.
The rest have been recaptured, but one has died from heat stroke.
Mr Kumar Pillai, director of zoology, Night Safari, said a team of 20 Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) personnel have been combing the 40-hectare park and the adjoining forest for the missing deer.
The stormy weather over the weekend had hampered search efforts.
These were made more difficult by the shy and elusive nature of the sambar deer. They can remain undetected by staying still, camouflaged amid forest shrubs and bushes. The nocturnal animals also have an acute sense of hearing and smell.
The WRS has set up feeding stations to lure it back to the park. It is also working with NParks to report on any deer sightings in the Mandai area.
Mr Kumar said they are investigating the incident, and will review their safety procedures and standards to ensure that a similar incident will not happen again.
Members of the public are advised to contact WRS at 6269-3411 or 6360-8530 if they encounter any injured or distressed wild animals.
