Tiny mouse-deer population explodes in singapore after wild pig disease outbreak and forest restoration

A rabbit-sized deer species thought extinct in Singapore for over 80 years has made a remarkable comeback that has stunned researchers. The greater mouse-deer, a nocturnal and elusive creature scientifically known as Tragulus napu, was rediscovered in 2008 on Pulau Ubin, a small island in the Johor Strait. What happened next defied all expectations.

Over 15 years of monitoring, scientists documented an extraordinary fivefold increase in the mouse-deer population density. By 2024, the population had grown so dramatically that it reached levels three times higher than anywhere else in the species’ natural range. “I had to perform the analyses multiple times and check my data to be sure there was no mistake,” said Marcus Chua, curator of mammals at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore.

The research team, publishing their findings in Biological Conservation, attributes this population explosion to two key factors. Forest restoration programs on the 4-square-mile island initially provided new suitable habitats for the recovering species. However, the most dramatic surge occurred after 2023, when African swine fever devastated Singapore’s wild pig population, eliminating more than 98% of the animals.

This unexpected ecological shift demonstrates how disease outbreaks and habitat restoration can dramatically reshape wildlife populations. The mouse-deer’s extraordinary recovery offers hope for conservation efforts while highlighting the complex interconnections within ecosystems. The species’ remarkable bounce-back from presumed local extinction to thriving population shows nature’s resilience when given the right conditions.