Doe you see me? Deer hoofs it past captors by blending with goat statues

A deer went viral on Thai social media after it escaped from a temple in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok and evaded capture by blending in with goat statues on the traffic island.

Officers from Bang Kaew Police Station received a report yesterday, October 8, from a motorist who spotted the deer standing on the traffic island of King Kaew Road. The motorist was concerned that the animal would be harmed by the high-speed vehicles on the road, or that it would pose a risk to motorists.

King Kaew Road is known for its decoration, which includes trees, animal statues, figures from the Ramayana epic, and golden swan street lamps.

Officers searched for the deer until they spotted it standing amidst the goat statues in the middle of the road. The police attempted to capture it but were unsuccessful. The deer continued to run along the traffic island, prompting the police to close the road and call a vet to sedate the animal.

Subsequently, the deer was identified as a doe (female) resident of the King Kaew Temple, located roughly 4 kilometres away from where the goat statues are situated. The deer’s choice of hiding spot significantly contributed to its viral fame on social media.

Despite the presence of statues of various animals, the deer cleverly opted to blend in with the most similar ones in the area. Fortunately, its brown fur distinguished it from its statue companions, allowing for a safe capture.

A similar story was reported in 2022 when a doe from the King Kaew Temple was on the loose. More than 20 rescuers were called to the scene to capture the doe but were unsuccessful due to heavy rain. The volunteer firefighters and temple workers eventually managed to catch the animal on another day.

The monk revealed to Sanook that a visitor who frequently made merit at the temple had gifted the animal to the temple. Its caretaker may have forgotten to close its cage, allowing the deer to escape.

The number of deer raised at the temple was not disclosed, so it is unclear whether this deer is the same one involved in the previous incident.