A newborn southern pudu named Yenai is capturing visitors' attention at Cologne Zoo in Germany after being introduced as the latest addition to the zoo's collection of one of the world's smallest deer species.
Yenai was born on 15 May and is the youngest member of the zoo's southern pudu population.
Her mother is Yadira, a three-year-old female transferred from Rotterdam Zoo, while her father, Alves, is a four-year-old male born and raised at Cologne Zoo.
Among the world's smallest deer
Zoo zoologist and deputy head of the South America section Lucy Hilius said the southern pudu is renowned for its exceptionally small size.
She explained that the species is considered one of the smallest deer in the world, with only its close relative, the northern pudu, being even smaller. Together, the two species are the smallest known members of the deer family.
Threatened in the wild
Despite their diminutive size and appealing appearance, southern pudus face significant threats in their natural habitat.
According to Hilius, habitat loss caused by human activity remains the greatest challenge to the species' survival. Deforestation is gradually reducing the areas where the animals can find food and shelter.
Free-roaming and feral dogs also pose a major threat, frequently attacking the small deer.
Southern pudus are found mainly in the forested and mountainous regions of the Andes in southern Chile.
International conservation efforts
The species is supported by international breeding programmes involving zoos in several countries.
The aim is to maintain a healthy captive population and contribute to efforts to ensure that the tiny deer does not face extinction in the wild.
