Aww Deer! Tiny Deer Born at Woodland Park Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: July 29, 2021 1:40 am

The eastern massasauga rattlesnake hatchlings at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Photo Credit: John Loughlin / Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo have introduced a pudu fawn. They are the world’s smallest species of deer and be found in parts of South America.

Born on July 11th 2021 to parents Ted and Maggie, the male fawn weighed in at 0.7kg (1.5lbs). The youngster is yet to be named.

“This is the second fawn for mom and dad, and as expected, everyone is doing well,” said Shawn Pedersen, an animal care manager at Woodland Park Zoo. “Baby is nursing and bonding with mom, and the fawn has met all of the healthy benchmarks at its neonatal exam. We’ll continue to keep an eye on the new family, but everything is going great.” 

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The pudu parents were paired as part of the Pudu Species Survival Plan, a cooperative, conservation breeding program across accredited zoos to help ensure a healthy, self-sustaining population of the species.

At present only 33 pudu live in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) population. Most of these are female making a male even more valuable.

Visitors to Woodland Park Zoo can meet the pudu family, including the new fawn, at the zoo’s Temperate Forest habitat alongside their neighbours the flamingos.

Learn more about Pudus here – Pudu Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about the Woodland Park Zoo on their website – Woodland Park Zoo