QUEENS: One of the world’s smallest deer species, the pudu deer, is now on display at the Queens Zoo in New York City. The tiny South American deer species, known for its diminutive size, has welcomed a new fawn, marking a significant moment for the zoo.
The pudu fawn, born in June, weighed just under 1 kilogram at birth, according to a statement from the New York Wildlife Conservation Society. As an adult, the southern pudu is expected to reach a weight of 7 to 9 kilograms, roughly the size of a large watermelon.
Pudus are native to Chile and Argentina and are classified as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The species faces challenges such as habitat destruction and competition from invasive species, leading to a declining population in the wild.
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The Queens Zoo is part of a breeding program in collaboration with other zoos to maintain genetically diverse populations of southern pudus. Since 2005, eight pudu fawns have been born at the Queens Zoo.
The newest addition will share its habitat with its parents, continuing the zoo’s efforts to support the species’ conservation.
