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Queens Zoo News
Hello, Little Deer: Queens Zoo Welcomes New Pudu
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©WCS/S.Bolduc
| Napoleon is smitten. The Queens Zoo’s petite male pudu made fast friends with his new mate, Josephine. The two are living up to the historic bond of their namesakes, according to zookeepers’ observations. While no love letters have yet been exchanged, the pudu do share many practical things, such as trees for shelter and greens for food.
The world’s smallest deer, pudu stand only 14–18 inches high at the shoulder and weigh 14–30 pounds. Since Napoleon and Josephine look almost identical, the best way to tell them apart is to look for Napoleon’s short, spiky antlers. Like all deer, only male pudus grow these appendages, which are shed each winter.
Because of its small size, the pudu is a master of self-defense—a good jumper, runner, and climber. When fleeing from pursuers such as the puma and fox, this mighty mini-deer can scramble up leaning tree trunks and run in a zigzag pattern that’s hard to follow. Pudu also bark in alarm when threatened. But Josephine and Napoleon have nothing to fear—their exhibit is a safe distance from Queens Zoo pumas Felix and Cleo!
The pudu is an endangered species, threatened by habitat destruction in its native home, the temperate rainforests of Argentina and Chile. The Wildlife Conservation Society has been working to protect the wildlife of this region, called the Southern Cone, for over 40 years.
Queens zookeepers are hopeful that Napoleon and Josephine will make their own history as time goes on. Will there be the pitter-patter of little hooves in the future? Stay tuned.
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