9 mei 2024 om 05:49
Last week, a rare crested deer was born in Blijdorp, the zoo announced on social media on Tuesday. There are only four crested deer in Blijdorp in total and births are rare.
“After a gestation period of about six months the time had come,” the zoo writes. The only female crested deer in Blijdorp gave birth to a young one. Although there is a webcam in the animals’ indoor enclosure, the mother managed to give birth away from the camera.
Fortunately, there are images of the young deer, which the zoo has posted on Instagram. It shows that after a few minutes the cub was up on its hooves to drink from its mother.
If you want to see the crested deer, you will have to wait a little longer. “The animal will remain behind the scenes for a while,” the zoo says.
Four crested deer live in Blijdorp Zoo, three males and one female. Crested deer are known as one of the smallest ungulate species in the world: they grow to a maximum of 70 centimeters. Births are rare and that is why the zoo is very happy with the acquisition of the youngster.
The number of crested deer in the wild has been declining for some time. Blijdorp Zoo is therefore committed to saving the animal from extinction. The zoo coordinates a European population management program with which it contributes to species conservation and nature recovery.
