Rare sambar deer killed after BKE accident involving two motorcycles

A sambar deer was killed on the Bukit Timah Expressway in the early hours of Sept 2, following an accident involving two motorcycles.

Neither of the motorcyclists were hurt in the accident, said the National Parks Board (NParks) in a media reply, adding that it was alerted to the accident at 12.54am.

The deer, however, had already died when a team that was dispatched by NParks arrived at the location, and its carcass was removed for road safety reasons, said Mr How Choon Beng, NParks' group director for wildlife management.

A video posted on the Singapore Roads Accident.com's Facebook page on the night of Sept 2 shows how the deer was first hit by one motorcycle, and then another as it lay spinning on its side on the road.

A third motorcyclist managed to narrowly avoid the deer, before all three motorcyclists stopped their vehicles.

Stressing the need to drive with caution near forested areas, Mr How said that motorists should be alert to animals crossing when driving on roads flanked by forested areas.

This is especially so in areas where there are signs indicating animal crossings.

He added that the public should not handle injured wildlife, but instead contact NParks' 24-hour Animal Response Centre on 1800-476-1600 if a wild animal needs urgent rescuing.

The sambar deer is currently listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

According to the IUCN's website, this means it is considered to be at high risk of extinction in the wild.

• Additional reporting by Gabrielle Andres