Greater Malayan Chevrotain

In the wild, diet consists of fallen fruit and berries, aquatic plants, leaves, buds, shrubs and grasses.

At the Zoo, they eat various fruits, vegetables, and hay.

This species is found in Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and smaller Malaysian and Indonesian islands. It was thought to be regionally extinct in Singapore until it was rediscovered on an offshore island in 2008.

These animals prefer dense, moist lowland forests with lots of undergrowth cover. They live close to water sources.

Predators include birds of prey, larger reptiles, dogs, and cats – both wild and domestic.

Despite increased habitat loss as humans encroach further into forests to claim land for agriculture and logging, the greater Malayan chevrotain remains widespread and relatively common – for now. The species are adapting to live in more open habitats, such as less dense forests and even urban areas. Many populations are hunted for meat throughout the native ranges and poaching occurs in several protected forest areas.

Greater Malayan chevrotains are about the size of a large rabbit, with very long and thin legs and a rounded body. When standing, their hind end is higher than the front of their body. Their small size and compact body shape allow them to navigate through dense vegetation by creating small trails. They have a small, triangular head ending in a pointed black nose and large eyes. Their fur color is an orange-brown, with a white stomach, chest, and chin. Chevrotains do not have horns or antlers, but males do have elongated tusks in their upper jaw.

The males have a large gland on their lower jaw that they rub against females to see if they are ready to mate. When the females are not ready, they simply walk away. This species can breed year-round and will often do so within a couple of hours after a female gives birth. Because of this, females spend most of their adult life being pregnant. After a gestation period of approximately five months, a solitary offspring is born. Offspring can stand and be fully active within 30 minutes of being born. They are weaned at two to three months of age.

Chevrotains communicate through scent using the chemical information found in feces, urine, and the secretions from the gland under their jaw. Males have been observed stomping the ground at an accelerated rate – 4 beats per second – when agitated.

This species is very solitary, except during the breeding season. They are nocturnal and rest at specific intervals several times a day. The females tend to stay in their home territory while the males move around and usually do not spend more than a year in the same place. Males tend to be very territorial and will use their sharp canines to defend the area.