Shy Pudu Fawn Born at Bristol Zoo

A baby Pudu, the world's smallest species of deer, was born at the United Kingdom’s Bristol Zoo in May.

Photo Credit: Bob Pitchford

Weighing only about two pounds at birth, Pudu fawns have distinctive white-spotted markings on their backs, which help provide camouflage from predators. Because the zoo staff can’t get too close to the fawn yet, they don’t know its gender. The fawn is being raised by its mother.

Pudus are native to lowland temperate rainforests in Chile and southwest Argentina. They are usually active at night, when they emerge to feed on leaves, bark, and fallen fruit. In the wild, Pudu populations are declining as their rain forest habitat is cleared for cattle ranching and other human development. The Bristol Zoo participates in an international conservation breeding program for the species. Pudus are classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

See more photos of the Pudu fawn below.