THE QUICK AND SMART MOUSE DEER
No, I’m not making fun of the 2008 Year of the Mouse (Rat or wha’ever) for our 2nd post of the year. I just thought that…uhm…well; I just wanted it to be our 2nd post. There! Get off me. Any ways…
If you ask me, the Mouse Deer is in the league of relatively giant Southeast Asian animals that embodies the people of our great region. My fascination to this clever animal was renewed on our recent visit to Palawan Island in the Philippines.There are two kinds of ‘em in our region: the “Lesser”, found in Malaysia and Borneo; and the “Greater”, found in Palawan Islands and parts of Indonesia. The Lesser Mouse Deers of course, are the smallest. And they are in fact, the world’s smallest deer!
How small is small? A mature Mouse Deer is 18 inches tall and weighs 2kg! Aren’t they cute? They are no bigger than a rabbit with legs like a toothpick -- but extremely clever, gutsy and witty!That’s why the Mouse Deer caught the admiration and respect of our ancestors; they are always the main character, the trickster or the protagonist of ancient fables and folklores! In Malay folklore, the Mouse Deer plays the role of the wily fox in the west.
They are called “Kancil” in Malaysia, “Pilandok” in the Philippines,“Napu” in Indonesia and “Chevrotain” in the west. Chevrotain actually means “little goat” in French. As if being a mouse and a deer is not confusing enough. Ha!
These cute little critters are herbivores; it means they are vegetarians *they eat tofu too?*. And they are more active at night roaming the forest floors to find fallen fruits as well *fruitarians as well?*. Cool!As cute as they are – the Mouse Deer is NOT traded as pets. BUT illegal poachers raid them for bush meat! MEAT?!! Who eats it? Honestly. And of course, those dang illegal loggers clearing their habitat. *sigh* These are the main problems of our Mouse Deers.
If you own a blog, please do the right thing. Please feature our rare animal friends and create awareness.****
Previously Featured SE Asian Rare Species:
Komodo Dragon, Butaan, Kouprey, Tarsier, Orangutan and Philippine Eagle.
13 Comments:
There's a new species of rats found in Palawan. Scientist called them "Cloud Rats", as their natural habitat is in the mountains (above the clouds).
hi jake, CLOUD RATS are actually not new species to us. they can be found in mountain ranges of ANTIQUE, in PANAY ISLAND ever since found in PALAWAN. It is also where the biggest flower can be found-the RAFLESIA. Hope in some time the author have the opportunity to post RAFLESIA, the biggest flower in the world which most can be found in our region.
aren't these creatures so friggin cute?
I wish I could attract more readers who love animals.
@ Treskeide...thanks for the first comment. Was this your first? Thank you and it's always welcome and appreciated.
Let's see about Raflesia. I've seen one upclose in Borneo and I promise to myself not to think about it anymore. Haha. One stinky flower!
@ Jake...I'll take a look =) I want something "majestic" like the Butaan or Haribon. Anything more like that?
@ Pokka... your first comment! Thanks! Please come back often. We got more cutie critters coming =)
PISANU: Anything that's "majestic"? How about the Butanding (whale shark) or the mythical Banakon of Mindanao. Ask any Mindanaoan and they'll tell you about it. It is some kind of a feared snake. I don't how its called in English and I never saw a picture of it as well. But i know that on the town of Nabunturan, a town north of Davao, they had a Banakon skeleton held in some glass casing. I never saw it myself though.
Or how about the Malaysian Sun Bear or the Malaysian Tapir or even the "pawikan" that travels between Sulu and Borneo?
@Curbside...dude, Morgan made "chismis" to me that Pisanu actually adopted two whalesharks in Malaysia (a mother and a baby whaleshark). So kind and thoughtful of this guy Pisanu. I think I'm falling in love with him. :p (*wink-wink)
JAKE: oh yeah?! btw, siberian tiger cubs are on sale at the avilon zoo in a town some 30 kms east of manila.
i believe it's P120,000 per tiger cub.
just wanna share it since we're in an animal mood.
THAT AVILON ZOO MUST BE CLOSED THIS MINUTE!
They dont give the right message to the world! Tigers dont belong in the city or captivity.
Wat's GreenPeace number?
MACKY: I think you're over-acting here! You can own tigers AS LONG AS YOU GET PERMITS FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRY'S DEPARTMENT OR MINISTRY THAT DEALS WITH WILDLIFE.
that Avilon Zoo was once just a private zoological park of the owner and I know that he got his own permits as well.
So, A PERSON WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO BUY SUCH AN ANIMAL AS LONG AS HE GOT HIS PERMIT. aight?!
And by the way, it is WWF or World Wildlife Fund that is the more appropriate channel than Greenpeace.
No Curbside. WWF is like the U.N. More talk, less action. Unlike Greenpeace...action first then talk.
Greenpeace handles things like this depending on who is requesting. Wildlife are part of the environment, you know.
CLOSE ALL ZOOS!
OMG they are so friggin cute, I want one! Where can I buy them? Is it legal to own one?
DID YOU GO TO CALAUIT ISLAND?! did you see our local porcupine there and the bearcat?
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