Emma Robertson Chia stumbled upon a family of four sambar deer, a rare sight, while hiking in Thomson Nature Park.
The deer were only about 4.5 meters (15 feet) away from her, grazing in full sunlight near the trail.
She stayed still and quiet, watching the deer for several minutes, noting the male’s initial caution before it resumed grazing.
Using her iPhone, she took photos of the deer while maintaining her stillness, capturing the moment without disturbing them.
As a wildlife volunteer, Chia highlighted the need to respect sambar deer as wild animals and advised the public to keep their distance.
Sambar deer, native to Singapore, were once thought extinct due to poaching and habitat loss but reappeared in the 1970s, likely from zoo escapees.
The species is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, underscoring the significance of such encounters.
The doe appeared relaxed and continued grazing, but the male looked at her and sniffed the air "to check [her out]".