Shropshire Star

Tiny deer the size of Christmas bauble born at Chester Zoo

A tiny deer with a body about the size of a Christmas bauble has become the first of its kind at Chester Zoo.

Published

The female youngster, born to parents Rita and Ramos, is the first Philippine mouse deer to be born in the country.

The zoo's curator of mammals Tim Rowlands said: "Our newborn deer is incredibly small – similar in size to a Christmas bauble on tiny little legs, weighing just 430 grams.

"But, while this new arrival may be small in stature, it's big in terms of importance. It's the very first time the animal has been bred in the UK and to break new ground like this with a mammal species is really quite rare. The Philippine mouse deer is an endangered species. It's highly threatened by massive deforestation in South East Asia and so it's great news that our newcomer will add valuable new bloodlines."

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