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Birth of Bawean fawn adds joy to 2018 Asian Games
The endangered deer species that is now an Asian Games mascot welcomed a new family member at Taman Safari Prigen in East Java.
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The endangered deer species that is now an Asian Games mascot welcomed a new family member at Taman Safari Prigen in East Java. (JP/Aman Rochman)
Taman Safari Prigen in Pasuruan, East Java, recently welcomed a newborn female named Vani of the Axis kuhili species.
The deer species, also known as the Bawean deer, is one of the three mascots of this year’s Asian Games. Its natural habitat is on an island with the same name, located 150 kilometers north of Surabaya in East Java. Bawean deer are cited as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list of threatened species.
Natural Resource Conservation Agency East Java reported that as of 2016, there were 315 Bawean deer in the wild.
The birth of Vani adds joy to the Asian Games. Being one of the mascots, the Bawean deer called Atung represents speed. Other Indonesian animals that are mascots comprise a rhino named Kaka that represents strength and a bird called Bhin Bhin that embodies strategy.
General manager of Taman Safari Prigen Dias Yoenadi said on Aug. 19 that with the birth of Vani, the facility now has 35 deer. Vani is the offspring of a 6-year-old male deer named Tino and 3-year-old female deer named Vallen.
“Hopefully, the birth of Vani that coincides with the Asian Games can help increase the population of Bawean deer and raise awareness for people to help protect the species,” Dias told The Jakarta Post.
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Veterinarian Gilang Ramadan, who is observing Vani, said the fawn is now in an isolation facility and will socialize with her family before the park sets her free to join a larger group of deer.
Vani now weighs 15 kilograms. She will mature and be ready to mate at the age of three.
“Bawean deer are nocturnal animals, usually living in small groups comprising a doe and her fawn. During mating season, there are usually two [male] deer in the group. Their pelage is generally brown in color, with white marks on the tail. The males have three-tined antlers to attract the doe in mating season,” said Dr. Gilang. (mut)
