A heroic deer was recovering today from having her leg amputated after she was shot by poachers looking for wild meat.

The protected Sambar deer was found riddled with gunshot wounds two months ago in the Kaeng Krachan National Park, between Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces in Thailand.

She somehow managed to flee the attackers - who sell deer meat on the black market to restaurants - but her leg had to be removed as the bullet fragments shattered her bone.

The brave creature, named Sandee by wildlife rescuers, survived the ordeal and is now happily hopping around the wildlife sanctuary in Hua Hin province.

Footage shows five-year-old Sandee appearing well-adjusted as she sands on three limbs with the other animals in her peaceful new home.

Edwin Wiek from the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) said: ‘The deer whose leg we had to amputate is a sad case. It's an example of illegal poaching in the national park and wildlife sanctuaries.'

The non-government organisation's founder added that at first they didn't expect the animal to survive.

He said: ‘This case is a survivor, kind of lucky because it's still alive [after] losing one leg.

‘People might say why do you do this, it cannot go back to the wild anymore, it lost one leg.

‘But we believe every life should have a chance to go on and for our vets, it's an amazing job to do something like this. We never expected this animal to survive but here you are.'

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation called the WFFT to assist with the deer's urgent treatment.

Veterinarians found several bullet fragments had been embedded in its leg, shattering the bone. The limb had to be amputated to save its life.

Doctor Khwan Siriporn Ittiphol said: ‘When we first found her, she was severely injured and bleeding a lot. So we made a decision to anaesthetise her for a thorough examination. She had gunshot wounds, most of them on her front left leg.

‘We did an x-ray and were aware that her leg was broken. But we hoped the blood vessels and the nervous system had not been destroyed. We hoped that she could still use her leg again.'

But after three days, her leg remained numb.

The vet added: ‘Then we decided to amputate her leg to prevent complications and also reduce her pain.

‘We mostly take care of her food, we check if she is eating properly and whether the pain has been disturbing her natural habitat because, obviously, we took away her leg so there would be some pain afterwards.'

Sandee will be unable to survive in the wild so she will stay at the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre in Hua Hin. She can roam with other rescued animals around protected areas, but she is still afraid of getting too close to humans.

Edwin added: ‘I started the foundation in 2001, 22 years ago. We have a big place over here, 88 hectares.

‘We have a wildlife rehabilitation and rescue centre where we rescue animals from illegal pet trades, animals that have been handed over, animals that have been confiscated and or taken away by authorities, and animals injured.

‘Basically, all kind of wild animals that are available in Thailand we see coming through here.'

After rescuing wildlife for more than 20 years, Edwin said the country has improved in the protection of wildlife.

He said: ‘There is a lot of improved quality of rangers, basically patrolling the areas better with a lot of better people, better training, and with better equipment.

‘However, every now and then you still see that cases like this occur in the news where animals are being hunted and killed and sold on the illegal meat trade or in the pet trade.'

But after the incident with Sandee, the animal lover said he hoped to inspire the youth to protect nature.

He said: ‘Running a place like this for over 20 years has been an amazing adventure - a dream of a little boy that came true.

‘I'd like to be an example to a lot of younger people that you should still believe in your dreams. That you can do it if you try, if you work hard, and you are determined.

‘The nature is beautiful, wildlife is amazing but there are people needed to help protect them

‘If I can be some kind of inspiration to other people to go this way then that would be fantastic.'

Sambar deer are listed as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Their populations are threatened by severe hunting and exploitation of their habitats.

Sambar deer are native to South China, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.