‘Michael Jackson’ First Fawn Born In Breeding Center

BACOLOD CITY – A fawn named after the late American pop superstar Michael Jackson became the first Visayan Spotted Deer to be born in the last six years at the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation’s (NFEFI) captive breeding and conservation center in Bacolod City.

The male deer was born in July.

“We were all very excited about the birth,” NFEFI curator Doctor Joanne Justo said.

“We were delighted when the female, Sandy, turned out to be pregnant and we kept our fingers crossed it would lead to a successful birth,” Justo added.

The fawn, nicknamed MJ after Michael Jackson, went on display last week to visitors who flocked to the NFEFI center by the Provincial Lagoon in Bacolod City. The NFEFI now has 13 of these rare creatures and all can be seen at the center.

“The Visayan Spotted Deer is the rarest and most threatened deer species in the world and the arrival of MJ is very encouraging. Under the right conditions, this beautiful animal certainly has a future,” Justo said.

As part of NFEFI’s recently launched fund-raising campaign the center is hoping someone will come forward and sponsor the fawn.

“Supporting the fawn for a year is not expensive and it would make a unique gift for a loved one,” Justo said.

If any concerned citizen would be interested in supporting the fawn in full or in part, please call NFEFI at (034) 4339234 or e-mail [email protected].

NFEFI’s website is www.negrosforests.org.

Aside from NFEFI, the other two key players in the Visayan Spotted Deer Conservation Program are Silliman University’s Center for Tropical Conservation Studies and the Mari-it Conservation Park of West Visayas State University in Panay.

Inquirer / Thanks Jewel!