Chasing Glimpses of the Mouse-Deer

    They appear without warning — a flicker of movement, a soft rustle of leaves — and just like that, the forest holds its breath. This is the magic of encountering a Mouse-Deer.

    Tiny, delicate, and impossibly quick, the Mouse-Deer is one of the most elusive creatures I’ve ever tried to photograph. Though often mentioned in local wildlife circles, actually seeing one feels like catching a secret between the trees. 

 📍 Singapore: Forest Ghost in the City 

    In Singapore’s Central Catchment, my first encounter came after many quiet, watchful hours. These forest dwellers are shy and mostly nocturnal — more heard than seen. But on one lucky morning, just beyond the tangle of undergrowth, a small figure emerged. It was a brief moment — cautious steps, a pause to sniff the air — and then gone. I managed a few record shots, far from perfect, but enough to feel like I had found something rare. Here, the Mouse-Deer feels like a myth come alive — a creature still clinging to quiet corners of a modern city. 

Mouse Deer at night, Track 15, Singapore

 📍 Thailand: A Surprise Visitor to the Hide

    In Kaeng Krachan National Park, the Mouse-Deer came as an unexpected guest.

    We weren’t even looking for it — I was tucked quietly inside a bird hide, waiting patiently for feathered visitors to appear. Then, almost like a soft breeze across the leaf litter, it stepped into view.
    Unlike my elusive encounters in Singapore, this one was calm, unhurried. Perhaps used to the quiet presence of photographers, it lingered a little longer — sniffing the air, foraging briefly, and offering a few precious seconds to frame the shot.
    It was still wild, still cautious, but not impossible to photograph this time. And in that moment, the Mouse-Deer felt less like a ghost and more like a curious forest neighbor.

    Here are some of the images I was lucky to capture.

📍 Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand

📅 2025 April 27