On August 15, the Queens Zoo unveiled the world’s smallest deer, the Southern Pudu. According to a video from the official X platform account of the Queens Zoo, this little creature is only as big as a rabbit, with several rows of white spots on its back resembling those of a spotted deer. Its chubby body is quite different from the slim figure of a typical deer.
This deer was born on June 21 this year, weighing only 2 pounds. Once it grows to a height of one foot, the white spots on its fur will disappear. “Although it is very tiny, it represents a huge victory for vulnerable animals,” the Queens Zoo stated. “As part of a species survival plan, the Queens Zoo has raised four Pudu deer over the past five years to help protect these wild animals.”
The zoo also mentioned some interesting characteristics of the Pudu deer, such as their tendency to scream loudly when they sense danger or zigzag running to escape predators.
According to the Los Angeles Zoo website, the Southern Pudu is the smallest species of deer in the world, measuring only 90 centimeters in length and weighing between 9 to 15 kilograms, with a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. These animals inhabit temperate rainforests in Argentina and Chile, preferring dense shrubs and bamboo forests. They feed on fruits, berries, fungi, nuts, plants, and juicy sprouts. However, they seem to have a preference for ferns, vines, shrubs, and the leaves of small trees, obtaining most of the water they need from the plants they consume.
New Yorkers can visit this small deer at the Queens Zoo on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The address of the Queens Zoo is 53-51 111th St, Corona, 11368.