The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

Royalty Born at San Diego Zoo!

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On February 8, the San Diego Zoo welcomed a tiny male Royal Antelope calf, weighing just 17 ounces! The decision was made to hand-feed the calf after it displayed a low body temperarture and wasn't feeding shortly after birth. The nipple on the calf's baby bottle had to be specially made to fit his tiny antelope mouth. In April, 2003 San Diego became the first zoo in the Western Hemisphere to have a Royal Antelope birth. These shy nocturnal Antelope are the smallest Antelope species, measuring just 10-12 inches high and weighing only 9-10 pounds when fully grown.

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Royal Antelope SD Zoo

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Photo credits: San Diego Zoo

19 responses to “Royalty Born at San Diego Zoo!”

  1. Suntherian Avatar
    Suntherian

    Oh my goodness, so tiny! Even when fully grown they must be tiny! What a beautiful little baby!

    Reply
  2. Annapolitan Avatar
    Annapolitan

    Who cut up his ears?

    Reply
  3. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Agh!! I am having a cute attack! So sweet!!!

    Reply
  4. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    Looks really tasty

    Reply
  5. alikinyc Avatar
    alikinyc

    His ears are notched to identify him within the larger herd, when he rejoins them. What a cute little guy – look at those tiny hooves!

    Reply
  6. DAH Avatar
    DAH

    gack Jo gack!!

    Reply
  7. slymamaw Avatar
    slymamaw

    You’re on the wrong site. Go away!

    Reply
  8. Cat Avatar
    Cat

    They have to do that for identification. 🙂 But they’d do it with sedation so it doesn’t hurt.

    Reply
  9. alikinyc Avatar
    alikinyc

    Sedation is NOT used fo make the ear notches. It’s just too dangerous to sedate a neonate! It’s done quickly, like an ear piercing and like when dewclaws are removed from newborn pups…VERY quick.

    Reply
  10. Hilary Minor Avatar
    Hilary Minor

    Is this the same as the tiny antelope that, in Africa, we used to call a Dik Dik? They are absolutely lovely and I hope this breeding pair have a lot more babies 🙂

    Reply
  11. matti@hotmail.com Avatar
    matti@hotmail.com

    say no more .. that thing is rat..

    Reply
  12. Annapolitan Avatar
    Annapolitan

    They sedate a newborn animal? Gee, how safe is that? Even adult animals can die from sedation or anesthesia.

    Reply
  13. Ginny Avatar
    Ginny

    Dik diks are a different species of dwarf antelope. Royals are even smaller than dik dik. : )

    Reply
  14. Hilary Minor Avatar
    Hilary Minor

    TypePad HTML Email
    Dear Ginny,
    Wow! That was a swift response! Thanks so
    much. I know that Dik diks are endangered as they were slaughtered
    and their little horns made into jewellery – pendants, earrings and the
    like. I hope this has stopped now. I dont know how they
    are faring and I hope and pray that the Royals are under heavy
    protection. They are achingly beautiful 🙂
    Best wishes,
    Hilary

    Reply
  15. ym Avatar
    ym

    What teensy-weensy hooves. Who would’ve thought hooves could be so itsy-bitsy?

    Reply
  16. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    It’s probably safe to assume the zookeepers know what they’re doing. Even a very young animal can be safely sedated if the dosage and administration of the drug are handled competently.

    Reply
  17. Nikkicola Avatar
    Nikkicola

    Sooo cute

    Reply
  18. Nikkicola Avatar
    Nikkicola

    That’s so mean

    Reply
  19. After dark Avatar
    After dark

    Wow so cutee..I want to take him into my hands.

    Reply

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