The Greater mousedeer with the distinctive white patterns on its chest.Photo by Chan Kwok Wai
For those who missed Marcus' excellent talk, read his paper for all the photos and details.
Originally thought to be "probably extinct", the re-discovery of the Greater Mousedeer is quite exciting. Marcus has an excellent explanation with diagrams of how to tell this mousedeer apart from the Lesser mousedeer, as well as details of how his study was conducted. His study resulted in 100 sightings of these beautiful animals! With signs of a breeding population on Pulau Ubin.
Marcus discusses possible reasons why the Greater mousedeer had not been sighted earlier. And how these animals might have turned up on Pulau Ubin. One possible factor is "the recovery of Ubin's forest habitat, facilitated by the closure of granite quarrying and resettlement of many villagers (to the mainland) during the last decade." The lack of natural large predators such as tigers and leopards may also have allowed the mousedeer population to recover more quickly.
But where did the mousedeer come from? Marcus suggests they might have swum over from Johor "possibly forced out of their forest habitats that were cleared for developing plantations or the Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort north of Pulau Ubin."
Marcus highlights that the Greater mousedeer faces an uncertain future on Pulau Ubin. Threats include human disturbance especially night activities and unregulated night walks. Poaching is also a threat.
Indeed, it is alarming that large mammal traps have recently been seen on Pulau Ubin.
On the mainland, there are already incidents of dogs being maimed in traps.
There is indeed much we need to learn and do to protect our amazing wildlife.
Download the paper from the Nature in Singapore website to see all the glorious photos and read the fascinating details. "Rediscovery of greater mouse deer, Tragulus napu (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Tragulidae) in Pulau Ubin, Singapore." M. Chua, N. Sivasothi and R. Teo. Pp. 373–378. [PDF, 380 KB]
More on poaching at Pulau Ubin and the mainland
- Pulau Ubin: Illegal animal traps getting bigger Tracy Sua, Straits Times 8 Jan 08;
- Illegal animal traps found on Pulau Ubin: One could hold a wild boar, and two others, 15 each - such traps are a threat to endangered animals, Sumathi V. Selvaretnam, Straits Times 19 Dec 07;
- Five illegal traps found on Pulau Ubin since September Channel NewsAsia 18 Dec 07;
- Poachers leave animal traps in Lim Chu Kang forest Zaihan Mohamed Yusof, The New Paper 28 Jul 08;
- Second dog maimed by illegal trap Straits Times 23 Aug 09;
- Clamp down on illegal traps in Singapore Straits Times Forum 18 Aug 09;
- More about Pulau Ubin.
- Marcus Chua's talk on the Greater Mousedeer on Pulau Ubin
- Marcus’ Ubin’s medium-sized mammal talk well-delivered from Systematics & Ecology Lab, NUS
- Greater Mouse Deer rediscovered on Pulau Ubin after 80 years on the Biodiversity Crew @ NUS blog.
- Mousedeer sightings on Ubin on sgkopi.com
- Greater Mouse Deer sighted in Pulau Ubin Animal thought to be extinct in Singapore spotted for first time in 80 years, Ang Yiying, Straits Times 26 Mar 09
- Mousedeer by Pwee, Timothy on the National Library Board Singapore website
