The dodo and the deer

I've been reliable informed that a character using the moniker “Ashtar Command” must be an expert on all things nerdy. Can confirm!

Today, we are going to discuss some aspects of the coat of arms of Mauritius, as depicted on this T-shirt. The creature on the left (heraldic right or dexter) is, of course, a dodo. But what is the creature on the right (heraldic left or sinister)? According to Wiki, which doesn't cite any sources, it's a sambur deer (sometimes spelled sambar deer). However, some quick research on the web revealed that no sambar deers (Rusa unicolor) live on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.

After some additional nerdy browsing, I've come to the conclusion that the animal is a rusa deer (Rusa timorensis). These deer, while not native to Mauritius, have indeed been introduced to the island. They are, somewhat confusingly, sometimes called “sambur deers”, which may explain a thing or two!

It's interesting to note that the coat of arms shows both an extinct native animal (the dodo) and a living non-native ditto (the rusa deer). I suspect there may be some kind of meaning behind this, perhaps to indicate the complex history of this small nation, or its multi-ethnic character? Incidentally, the Latin motto means “Star and Key of the Indian Ocean”, and nothing else. Next week: the hunt for the White Dodo!