Close Encounters with Rare Mammals: The Sumatran Serow

Sun 2nd Mar, 2014

A new occasional series of articles describing naturalists' rare and exciting encounters.

On our recent YCN trip to the jungles of Thailand we were treated to a very unexpected close encounter, one which would leave at least one ex-pat naturalist turning green with envy!

On 19th February 2014 at 9 a.m. we were concentrating on finding a Blue Pitta on a mountainside at Khao Yai National Park, examining every leaf on the forest floor and listening intently for our cerulean quarry. Our excellent local guide 'Mr Nine' suddenly came to a halt. "Serow!" he said, in a hushed, disbelieveing voice. We were amazed to see a dark animal, seemingly a cross between a Wild Boar, a goat and a small deer, only 10 metres below us on the stepped boardwalk!

A mother and her calf were soon in full view, browsing with one eye on us but displaying no fear despite our proximity. We spent a very memorable 20 minutes quietly following them around the trail, taking many photos and video!

The Sumatran Serow Capricornis sumatraensis is a rare antelope found in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. They are usually regarded as shy. Our sighting excited much interest, but others searching for the animals  failed to find them until a trail camera picked up the mother on her own early the next morning, the last sighting that we know of.

Each Serow inhabits a small area marked with trails, dung heaps, and scents . They feed on grass, shoots and leaves during the early morning and late evening. They defend their home range from any intruding Serows with their dagger-like horns, which are also used by this rather aggressive goat-antelope to fight off predators.

There are many threats to this beautiful mammal and the population is declining. They are consequently listed on Appendix I of CITES. Poaching is not uncommon, and Serows are often caught in snares set for other game species, as well as shot for their meat and or for their body parts, which are used in traditional medicines.

Our video shows the female, with her longer horns, followed closely by her calf.

If you would like to know more about the Serow and help its conservation, please visit the The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ Sumatran Serow

Richard Baines and Gaynor Chapman, YCN