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Today, I am pleased to share a photograph of our magnificent Bruno, captured this morning by our field team lead, Dennis. He appears absolutely stunning and regal with his new set of antlers, resembling a king in the field.

Throughout the past 5 years, I have observed Bruno evolve from a young deer into a fully mature adult, and it fills me with pride to see that our conservation efforts have been worthwhile.

Photo Credit : Dennis Ho (Field lead)

Personal collection : Hornbill Changi Point Ferry Terminal

June 2026

Article :
Sambar deer & Photography, an "unique concoction".

"Wildlife photography is often portrayed as a pursuit of patience, but with sambar deer, it is equally a lesson in humility.

Many people imagine that finding a deer is simply a matter of knowing where to look. In reality, these animals decide whether they wish to be seen. There are mornings when we spend hours waiting in silence, only for the forest to remain still. Then, on another day, they emerge without warning, as if materializing from the mist itself.

What makes them so captivating is their mystery. They appear with the first light of dawn, lingering only briefly before melting back into the landscape. Sometimes we are given only a few precious minutes to observe them. Sometimes only seconds. And then they are gone, leaving behind little more than footprints in the dew and memories on a camera card.

Every photograph you see today represents far more than a press of the shutter. It is the culmination of countless hours spent studying behaviour, understanding movement patterns, respecting boundaries, and accepting that nature owes us nothing.

The images are not trophies. They are moments of trust. Fleeting glimpses into a world that remains largely hidden from human eyes.

Perhaps that is why the deer continue to captivate us. The more time we spend with them, the more we realise that there is still so much we do not know.

Dennis Ho : Lead Field Photographer - Lead field team
Photo Credit : Nicholas Lee, Team photographer

June 2026

Bruno enters the final stage of velvet shedding, a brief yet remarkable period in the antler cycle of a mature sambar stag. Within days, the remaining velvet will be stripped away, unveiling fully hardened antlers that signal readiness for the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood.

Photo credit : Dennis Ho

DEER FACTS : Velvet on deer antler
Name: Bruno

Velvet is a soft, highly vascularised tissue that covers and nourishes a stag's developing antlers. Rich in blood vessels and nerves, it supplies the oxygen, proteins, and minerals required for one of the fastest forms of bone growth in the animal kingdom, with antlers capable of growing up to 2 centimetres per day.

During this growth phase, the antlers generate a distinct thermal signature that can be detected even in complete darkness using thermal imaging equipment. The intense blood circulation beneath the velvet makes the antlers noticeably warm to the touch.

As the antlers approach full development on its 6th month, rising testosterone levels trigger the cessation of blood flow to the velvet. Deprived of nutrients and oxygen, the velvet dries, dies, and begins to peel away. Sambar stags then vigorously rub their antlers against trees, saplings, and other vegetation to shed the dead tissue.

Once the velvet has been completely removed, the antlers reveal their hardened bony structure, ready to be used in territorial displays, sparring with rival stags, and during the breeding season.

For sambar deer, this velvet-shedding period is often marked by noticeable rubbing damage on young trees and saplings, which serves as a visible sign that a stag has entered the final stage of antler development. The appearance of freshly polished antlers also signals that the animal is approaching peak breeding condition.

'Good morning' everyone!

Photo credits : Dennis Ho

NParks Festival of Biodiversity (FOB) 2026 Singapore