A
fawn from the smallest species of deer in the world has been born at the United Kingdom's Chester
Zoo.  The baby Southern Pudu, who was
born on June 19, is part of an international conservation breeding program to
protect this endangered species.

The tiny deer, named Thor by his keepers, weighed less than two pounds (900g)
when he was born to his mom Serena and dad Odin.   A fully-grown Pudu is only 15 inches (38 cm) tall
at the shoulders.

Photo Credit:  Chester Zoo

Keeper Sarah Roffe said, “Despite being small in stature, Pudu are very,
very good sprinters. And what they lack in size,
they make up for in strategy – running in zigzags to try and escape from less
nimble predators.”

The Pudu is native to the rainforests of Chile and Argentina. Their numbers
have declined due in part to their rainforest habitat being destroyed
and cleared for cattle ranching and other human developments.