wildsingapore news: Jun 17, 2018

Channel NewsAsia 17 Jun 18;

SINGAPORE: A 46-year-old taxi driver was taken to hospital after his vehicle, a car and a motorcycle were involved in an accident along the BKE early on Sunday (Jun 17), police said.

The drivers of the vehicles were attempting to avoid a wild deer that dashed onto the road.

Police said they were alerted at around 4.40am to the accident on the BKE towards PIE after Mandai Road exit.

In a video sent to Channel NewsAsia of the scene following the accident, the deer was seen sitting on the road near a tow-truck.

According to Ruey Jin who took the video, he was passing by the scene at around 4.48am.

“Saw a wild deer struggling in the middle of the road. Saw two cars involved in this accident and one of the cars damaged badly in front,” he said.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Source: CNA/mn

Sambar deer euthanised after accident along BKE involving 3 vehicles
Channel NewsAsia 17 Jun 18;

SINGAPORE: A sambar deer that was involved in an accident on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) early on Sunday (Jun 17) had to be euthanised on welfare grounds as its injuries were too severe.

In a statement, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) said it was alerted to the incident by Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) at around 6.45am.

"A rescue team consisting of five zookeepers and a veterinarian was activated and attended to the scene," WRS said. "The team found the injured animal in great distress and a rapid assessment revealed multiple abrasions and wounds all over the body. Fractures of the hind legs were also suspected as the animal was unable to stand.

"For its safety as well as that of road users on the expressway, the 120kg adult male sambar deer was sedated and brought to the animal hospital in WRS – Singapore’s designated rescued wildlife centre – for emergency medical attention."

Upon further examination, WRS veterinarians determined that the deer's injuries were too severe. The animal was euthanised at 8am on welfare grounds, WRS said.

A 46-year-old taxi driver was taken to hospital after his vehicle, a car and a motorcycle were involved in an accident while attempting to avoid the wild deer that dashed onto the road.

Police said they were alerted at around 4.40am to the accident on the BKE towards the PIE after the Mandai Road exit.

In a video sent to Channel NewsAsia of the scene following the accident, the deer was seen sitting on the road near a tow-truck.

According to Ruey Jin who took the video, he was passing by the scene at around 4.48am.

“Saw a wild deer struggling in the middle of the road. Saw two cars involved in this accident and one of the cars damaged badly in front,” he said.

WRS said motor vehicle incidents are among the top threats to local wildlife and occur throughout the island.

To protect wildlife, WRS urges drivers to slow down and not speed, especially on roads along forested areas, and to heed wildlife crossing signs.

Source: CNA/mn/zl

Wild sambar deer causes 3-vehicle accident on BKE; taxi driver injured
Ng Huiwen and Audrey Tan Straits Times 17 Jun 18;

SINGAPORE - A wild sambar deer was seriously hurt after it wandered onto the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) near Mandai Road and caused a three-vehicle accident early Sunday (June 17).

The police said they were alerted to an accident involving a taxi, car and a motorcycle along BKE, towards the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), after the Mandai Road exit at 4.40am.

A 46-year-old taxi driver suffered cuts on his head. He was conscious when taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

The Straits Times understands that the accident occurred as the motorcyclist was trying to avoid the deer, which prompted the car and taxi drivers to apply their emergency brakes. Police investigations are ongoing.

Dashboard camera footage shared on social media show the rare animal struggling to get on its feet in the middle of the expressway, as vehicles inch past it on both sides.

A wildlife rescue team from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) headed to the location, after receiving a call at about 5am, said its deputy chief executive Kalai Vanan.

"The deer was immobile suggesting severe injuries," Mr Kalai said.

The wild sambar deer struggled to get on its feet following the accident on Bukit Timah Expressway, on June 17, 2018.

The authorities have previously said that wildlife are more commonly sighted near forested areas, include Lentor Avenue, the Ayer Rajah Expressway (around Tuas) and BKE (near the Eco-Link). PHOTO: ACRES
He added that due to the large size of the deer, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore was alerted and a team was able to safely contain the injured animal at about 7.30am.

Mr Kalai said a cloth was placed over the deer’s eyes to help keep the animal calm amid the continuous flow of traffic. He added that the deer suffered some cuts and lacerations, but that more tests had to be done to determine the extent of its internal or spinal injuries.

But the deer - which he estimated to weigh about 150kg - was unlikely to survive, he said.

Sambar deer are usually deep forest-dwellers, although they may venture to the forest fringes due to disturbances or to forage for food.

According to Mr Kalai, sambar deer have been involved in other road accidents before, and that it is difficult to say why this individual had ended up on the roads.

The Land Transport Authority warned motorists in a tweet at 5am to avoid the first to third lanes on the BKE towards the PIE, after the Mandai Road exit, due to an accident.

The authorities have previously said that wildlife are more commonly sighted near forested areas, include Lentor Avenue, the Ayer Rajah Expressway (around Tuas) and BKE (near the Eco-Link).

Signs have been put up to alert motorists to wildlife crossing at these areas,with the authorities urging motorists to slow down when they come across animals on the roads.

In February this year, a sambar deer died after it was hit by a vehicle in Mandai Road.

Motorists passing by that evening saw the animal standing in a pool of blood in the middle of the road, with some metal debris nearby.

It eventually stumbled to a grass patch at the side of the road, where it died.

Earlier in January, a sambar deer was caught on video dashing across Mandai Road in a split-second appearance.

Besides the sambar deer death in February, there have been two other cases of a rare mammal ending up as roadkill in Mandai since development for the Mandai hub of five wildlife parks began in January last year.

Works are ongoing to clear secondary forests in the area near the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari to accommodate two more parks - the relocated Bird Park, and new Rainforest Park.

In March, The Straits Times reported that a critically endangered Sunda pangolin was found dead in Mandai Lake Road near the Night Safari early last year. In February this year, a leopard cat was found dead in Mandai Lake Road.

Build fences in Mandai area to save wildlife
Straits Times 20 Jun 18;

It was distressing to read the report of another animal dying after an accident (Rare deer put down after 3-vehicle accident; June 18).

In recent times, there have been several such deaths onroads like Mandai Road, Mandai Lake Road and the Bukit Timah Expressway.

Wild animals including snakes, monkeys, wild boars as well as the rarer civet cats, pangolins and deer have been killed.

Some of these animals, I believe, ventured out in search of quieter pastures.

Already, built-up Singapore does not have much wildlife left to offer eco-tourists.

Ironically, the works taking place in Mandai to develop the new resort and bird park to promote eco-tourism could be leading to the deaths of some animals.

If so much can be spent to develop the eco-resort, surely it makes sense to invest a relatively small amount to build simple wire fences to deter and prevent wild animals from encroaching onto the roads.

This would save not only them but also human road users, especially vulnerable motorcyclists, from accidents.

I hope the developers and authorities will act soon.

Edwin Pang

Study how animals get onto roads
Straits Times 20 Jun 18;

I sympathise with the injured driver as well as the animal involved in the tragic accident on Sunday morning (Rare deer put down after 3-vehicle accident; June 18).

With "critically endangered" wildlife thriving in wooded pockets of Singapore, Singaporeans have been asked to collect information on their sightings and also call the National Parks Board or Agri-food and Veterinary Authority, if necessary.

In addition, I suggest that the authorities study where and how animals near the Eco-Link enter the Bukit Timah Expressway, and take necessary actions such as installing fences and cautionary signs for vehicles at those spots.

The areas around Mandai and Bukit Brown should also be included in such studies.

Grace Chew Chye Lay (Dr)

Best of our wild blogs: 17 Jun 18

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