Sambar deer fawn rescued from Bukit Timah Expressway after passers-by alert Singapore agencies

The motorcyclist said NParks officers told him rescued fawns are typically released near where they were found to facilitate reunions. — Picture via Facebook/James Lee

First Published: Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 4:26 PM MYT

SINGAPORE, Nov 10 — A sambar deer fawn was rescued from a grass verge along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) on Sunday (November 8) afternoon, thanks to a passing motorcyclist.

The motorcyclist, James Lee, said in a post on Facebook Group, Singapore Wildlife Sightings, that he was on his way back from a workshop when he spotted the fawn by the side of the expressway.

Photographs posted by Lee show the fawn curled up on the grass verge, in front of a fenced up section, beneath a slope. 

Commenting on the post, wildlife conservation and advocacy group Save Sambar Deer pointed out that the fencing is part of the ongoing wildlife exclusion fencing project in the area.

It posted a video showing an uncompleted stretch further away from the area where the fawn was found.

Fences were previously installed at several locations across Singapore, including major roads near the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment nature reserves, to curb wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Then-National Development Minister Desmond Lee had said in a Facebook post in April 2025 that these 1.8m-high fences can help deter mammals from jumping over them, reducing the incidences of roadkill.

According to the minister, higher-risk areas were identified based on past incidents.

The project is due for completion by the end of this year.

The sambar deer fawn found by a passing motorcyclist, James Lee. He stayed by the mammal's side until rescuers arrived. — Picture via Facebook/James Lee

NParks contractors rescued fawn

Lee said in his post that an LTA officer on a motorcycle had also spotted the same fawn, so they both reacted by separately alerting the relevant agencies —  Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and the National Parks Board (NParks).

A video shared by Lee shows two NParks contractors lifting the fawn, with one of them carrying it into their response vehicle. 

Two ACRES rescuers, a Land Transport Authority traffic marshal and crew from the Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS) are also present at the scene.

Lee said the fawn’s mother was seen lying nearby and chased after the fawn from behind the fence as the vehicle drove off.

“Such a pitiful sight,” he wrote. 

The motorcyclist said NParks officers informed him that they will usually release the fawn close to the original location where they are found, to facilitate reunion between the mammals. 

Meanwhile, sharing an update, Save Sambar Deer said the fawn was brought to the Mandai Wildlife Centre for veterinary care.

Ongoing wildlife exclusion fencing works along the Bukit Timah Expressway. — Picture courtesy of Save Sambar Deer via AsiaOne

Fawn released after care

In response to AsiaOne’s queries, NParks and Mandai Nature, which operates Mandai Wildlife Centre, said the deer was found to be weak and severely dehydrated when it first arrived.

Veterinarians at Mandai Wildlife Centre, who are experienced with sambar and other deer species, carried out a full health assessment, including blood tests and radiographs, and began immediate treatment to stabilise it.

“After close monitoring overnight, the fawn showed improvement and was assessed to be suitable for release. It was released by NParks yesterday in a forested area near the location where it was found.”

The agencies reminded members of the public not to handle injured animals on their own.

They may contact NParks’ 24-hour Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 for assistance. — AsiaOne