KUALA LUMPUR: SURVIVAL instinct kept a herd of deer on alert as several people were seen approaching them.
They stuck their heads up and, as if on cue, fled as we drew closer, except for one.
Meet Mek, the friendly Parliament deer.
Munching on supplement pellets made of soya, Mek is as cool as a cucumber. Too cool that she is a natural when it comes to people petting her and taking pictures.
Once she is done, like a diva, she walks slowly towards a tree to join the others that are wary of the presence of the other species (that’s us).
Mek is among 30 deer roaming at Parliament’s park, set up to symbolise the friendship between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The history of animals living in the Parliament compound goes back to 1983 when Indonesia’s Presidential Palace, Istana Bogor, gifted six axis deer — two stags and four does.
Prime Minister Tun (then Datuk Seri) Dr Mahathir Mohamad received the herd on July 2 that year and officiated Taman Indah Parlimen, later known as Taman Rusa.
In return, the government presented two lions to Indonesia.
And while the original herd passed on a long time ago, Parliament continued taking care of the offspring, in addition to sambar deer brought in later, in the name of friendship.
The Indonesian government had also gifted a pair of Anoa, or midget buffalo, a species that could be found in Sulawesi, to Parliament on May 6, 1986.
Parliament corporate communications division secretary Tengku Nasaruddin Tengku Mohamed said the late Tun Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail, then Dewan Rakyat speaker, acted as the animals’ guardian.
“Tun Zahir really loved animals and made sure that they were well taken care of. The midget buffaloes were gifted during his tenure.
“At one point, there were more than 200 deer and we even had peacock here. Most of the animals either died of natural causes or were handed to Perhilitan (Wildlife and National Parks Department) and Zoo Negara.
“Mek is the only approachable deer and has been our ‘saviour’ when we have guests from orphanages during special occasions. The children would stand near her and pet her. This park is not open to the public, but we would sometimes organise visits for underprivileged children.
“From what I have heard, the former caretaker used to bring her home with him every evening after she fell sick when she was a baby. He nursed her back to health and brought her to the park in the morning. Mek is used to having people around her,” he said at the park recently.
Agriculture assistant officer Nur Tarmizy Tuah, who is in charge of the park, said DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) identification process was being carried out with the cooperation of Perhilitan.
“We want to identify these deer for record purposes as some were brought in later. They feed on grass here and supplements that we replenish three times a week. There is also a salt mineral block at the shade located near a fountain. If any of them is hurt, we would send it to the veterinarian for treatment.”
To provide freedom for the wildlife species, he lets them roam in the 1.2ha park and limits their exposure to humans.