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Viral Sighting: 'Bunny Deer' Stuns Dubai Desert
22 Dec, 2025
Summary
- An Australian expat in Dubai filmed a bizarre creature resembling a bunny-deer hybrid.
- The animals were identified as Patagonian maras, large rodents native to Argentina.
- These creatures are believed to have escaped or been abandoned pets in Dubai's reserves.
An Australian woman, Louise Starkey, living in Dubai recently filmed an unusual animal near Crescent Moon Lake that has since gone viral. The creature, which Starkey described as a "bunny deer dog," has captivated social media users with its peculiar appearance.
Online sleuths quickly identified the animal as a Patagonian mara, a large rodent native to Argentina. These herbivores possess a unique look, combining features of a rabbit and a small deer, complete with long legs and prominent ears. They are known to be herbivores and can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h.
It is believed that these South American natives found their way into Dubai's Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve and Al Qudra Lakes through abandonment or escape as pets. Approximately 200 maras are thought to inhabit the Al Marmoom reserve, becoming a surprising addition to the local wildlife.
