Tiny deer that grows to the height of a bowling pin debuts at NY zoo, video shows

The Queens Zoo in New York recently welcomed a tiny newborn who has now made its debut.

A southern pudu fawn was born at the zoo on June 21, according to an Aug. 15 news release by the Wildlife Conservation Society. The baby weighed 2 pounds.

Southern pudu are one of the smallest deer species in the world, growing to 14 to 17 inches tall in adulthood — roughly the height of a bowling pin — and weighing 15 to 20 pounds.

Photos and videos released by the Wildlife Conservation Society show a minuscule deer sniffing its way around under the watch of two adult southern pudu who are four times the baby’s size but still shockingly petite.

Southern pudu typically live in second-growth forests, or forests that have regrown after a disturbance such as logging, in Chile and Argentina, according to the University of Michigan. They prefer areas with short trees and shrubs due to their wee stature.

The species has been in decline due to development, human activity and disease, according to the university. It’s unclear exactly how many southern pudu remain, but experts estimate their numbers are in the thousands.

This story was originally published August 19, 2024 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Tiny deer that grows to the height of a bowling pin debuts at NY zoo, video shows."