Chester Zoo 

Pudu

Pudu (Pudu pudu)

The Mapuche people of South Chile gave the pudu its Spanish name. Their habitat is dense forest in Argentina and Chile. They are solitary except in the breeding season. They are the smallest deer in the world. Males have short, spike-like antlers less than 10 cm long. A single fawn, weighing less than 1 kg, is born after a pregnancy of 6-7 months. Lifespan is up to 15 years. Pudus are active at dawn and dusk and feed on leaves, vines, bark, buds, blossom and fruit.