S'pore sambar deer matriarch 'White Dot' seen with newborn fawn, encouraging sign for conservation efforts

A sambar deer known for her distinctive white patch of fur on her forehead in Singapore has been sighted with a newborn fawn.

According to a Feb. 5 post by Facebook page Save Sambar Deer, which is managed by non-profit EcoWild Asia Organisation, it was revealed the deer was first spotted with her young by one of the team's members on Feb. 4.

The fawn is believed to have been born about 10 hours earlier, at around 2pm on Feb. 3.

The mother deer, nicknamed "White Dot", is well-known among wildlife observers and photographers for the distinctive white, shield-like marking on her forehead.

The name was given by wildlife photographer Tan Yong Lin, who first noticed her in 2022.

Speaking to Mothership, Tan said White Dot quickly became one of the most recognisable sambar deer in Singapore.

"Star deer"

According to Save Sambar Deer, White Dot displayed strong "leadership qualities" from a young age and rose to become the herd's leader within two years.

She evolved into "the matriarch," a position of authority, governance, and dominance within the group, the post wrote.

Based on photo and video footage collected in the third quarter of 2025, the team observed that White Dot’s abdomen had noticeably expanded, prompting suspicions that she was pregnant.

The group anticipated that she would give birth around February 2026.

By December 2025, updated images confirmed that White Dot was nearing the end of her pregnancy.

Encouraging sign for conservation efforts

In its post, the group said the birth of White Dot's fawn was an encouraging sign for conservation efforts, noting that each successful birth contributes to the long-term survival of the species in Singapore.

"Witnessing this event is profoundly encouraging for our conservation team’s initiatives. Each successful birth bolsters the future of the sambar deer population and serves as a reminder that our forests continue to offer sanctuary to these magnificent creatures."

The group also urged the public to observe the animals from a distance and to help protect their natural habitat, so that White Dot and her fawn can thrive in the wild.

More on sambar deer

Native to Singapore, sambar deer were once thought to be extinct on the island due to poaching and habitat loss.

However, the species resurfaced in the 1970s, and is believed to have descended from deer that escaped from the Singapore Zoo.

In 1997, the Nature Society Singapore estimated that only three sambar deer remained in the wild. By 2021, the National Parks Board (NParks) put the population at about 15.

A study published in February 2023 noted that the sambar deer population has increased in recent years.

It is currently listed as a vulnerable species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Top photos from Aidil Bone and Nicholas Lee via Save Sambar Deer/Facebook