{"id":248404,"date":"2026-01-23T20:29:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/248404\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T20:29:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:29:09","slug":"rare-sambar-deer-succumbs-to-injuries-from-traffic-accident-near-chestnut-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/248404\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare Sambar Deer succumbs to injuries from traffic accident near Chestnut Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deer succumbs to injuries from traffic accident, found near Chestnut Trail with suspected leg fracture<\/p>\n

A male Sambar deer died along the northern loop of the Chestnut Nature Trail after succumbing to injuries from a traffic accident.<\/p>\n

A hiker, Karen Chim, posted on Facebook about her discovery<\/a> on the morning of 20 Jan, including pictures and a video of the deer.<\/p>\n

Discovered while hiking at Chesnut Nature Trail<\/p>\n

In the video, the Sambar deer is visibly struggling, repeatedly flailing its limbs while lying on the ground.<\/p>\n

\"deer<\/p>\n

Source: Karen Chim on Facebook<\/p>\n

Towards the end of the video, one of its limbs bends unnaturally, exposing the flesh.<\/p>\n

\"deer<\/p>\n

Source: Karen Chim on Facebook<\/p>\n

In her post, Karen said she contacted the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES). She added that ACRES referred her to the National Parks Board (NParks).<\/p>\n

The Facebook group Save Sambar Deer posted a few hours later, stating that the animal had unfortunately died<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"injured<\/p>\n

Source: Karen Chim on Facebook<\/p>\n

According to the post, a vehicle hit the deer at Bangkit Loop, and the animal managed to crawl some distance toward Chestnut Trail.<\/p>\n

The deer succumbed to its injuries before the NParks team arrived at the scene, the post added.<\/p>\n

The post also highlighted the importance of motorists slowing down and remaining vigilant for wild animals along roads in the area.<\/p>\n

NParks unable to save deer<\/p>\n

According to a statement by NParks\u2019 Wildlife Management Group Director, How Choon Beng, NParks was alerted to an injured Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) along a hiking trail at Chestnut Nature Park at around 10am on 20 January 2026.<\/p>\n

An NParks team arrived at the scene shortly after.<\/p>\n

The deer had sustained critical injuries consistent with a vehicular collision and succumbed to its injuries.<\/p>\n

The team removed the carcass.<\/p>\n

Measures implemented over the years<\/p>\n

Over the years, NParks has undertaken several measures to facilitate the safe movement of wildlife in Singapore.<\/p>\n

One major implemented measure is the Eco-Link@BKE, opened in 2013.<\/p>\n

\"eco-link@BKE<\/p>\n

Source: NParks<\/p>\n

It is an ecological bridge\u00a0spanning the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and\u00a0allows animals to cross safely<\/a> between the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the\u00a0Central Catchment Nature Reserve.<\/p>\n

It is also the region\u2019s first overhead ecological corridor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 2023, research into the effectiveness of the bridge highlighted more than 101 different faunal species<\/a> sightings using it.<\/p>\n

\"deer<\/p>\n

Source: NParks<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Exclusion fencing and hedge planting in hotspots<\/p>\n

Furthermore, NParks introduced exclusion fencing and hedge planting at identified spots with reported incidence of vehicular-wildlife collisions in 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n

As a result, there has been a decrease in the number of Sambar Deer and Wild Boar roadkill incidents<\/a> in Singapore from 2023 to 2024 in these areas, according to Minister of Education Desmond Lee, in a post on Facebook.<\/p>\n

\u201cExclusion fencing and hedge planting have been implemented at three locations to date, and will be extended to nine more locations by 2026,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"exclusion<\/p>\n

Source: Desmond Lee on Facebook<\/p>\n

The exclusion fences will guide animals towards using the Eco-Link bridge and deter them from crossing the road.<\/p>\n

They are around 1.8m tall to prevent large mammals such as Sambar deer from jumping over.<\/p>\n

\"1.8m<\/p>\n

Source: Desmond Lee on Facebook<\/p>\n

Furthermore, hedges will also serve as a natural visual barrier, deterring wildlife from reaching roads.<\/p>\n

\"hedge<\/p>\n

Source: Desmond Lee on Facebook<\/p>\n

Multiple roadkill incidents in January 2026<\/p>\n

Records show multiple instances of roadkill within the first month of 2026.<\/p>\n

On 15 Jan, a fatal traffic accident involving two pangolins<\/a> occurred near Bukit Timah.<\/p>\n

As of 21 Jan, the Herpetological Society of Singapore has also recorded at least four snake deaths due to traffic collisions.<\/p>\n

\"roadkill<\/p>\n

Source: Herpetological Society of Singapore<\/p>\n

Mr How added that motorists \u201cshould be alert to animals crossing when driving along roads flanked by forested areas, especially where there are signs to indicate animal crossings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMembers of the public are reminded not to handle injured wild animals on their own.<\/p>\n

For urgent reports of wildlife requiring rescue, they may contact NParks\u2019 24-hour Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600,\u201d said Mr How.<\/p>\n

Also read: 2 pangolins found dead near Bukit Timah, ACRES disheartened by roadkill incident<\/a><\/p>\n

2 pangolins found dead near Bukit Timah, ACRES disheartened by roadkill incident<\/a><\/p>\n

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at\u00a0news@mustsharenews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Featured image adapted from Karen Chim on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Deer succumbs to injuries from traffic accident, found near Chestnut Trail with suspected leg fracture A male Sambar…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":248405,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[111,139,69,147,406],"class_list":{"0":"post-248404","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wildlife","8":"tag-new-zealand","9":"tag-newzealand","10":"tag-nz","11":"tag-science","12":"tag-wildlife"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248404\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/248405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}