12-05-2025
Nashville Zoo's pudu welcomes baby just in time for Mother's Day. Meet the 1.5 pound baby
Mother's Day came a bit early at the Nashville Zoo by welcoming its newest fawn, a male southern pudu.
The young fawn was introduced to the world over Mother's Day weekend, but the newest resident came into the world on April 28 at a whopping 1.7 pounds, and became the first southern pudu born at the Nashville Zoo. He's also the first for his mom, Bosa, and dad, Pacu.
Zoo veterinarian Dr. Louden Wright said first-time mom Bosa was 'doing a great job.'
'We see a lot of animals struggle with their first offspring, but Bosa is taking to it naturally. Both her and the fawn are thriving,' Wright said.
The zoo posted a Mother's Day tribute to the newly minted pudu mom on May 11.
"Happy Mother's Day from first-time mom, Bosa, her adorable new fawn and all of us at the Zoo! 💝"
Here are some facts about pudus and what makes them special.
Pudus are the smallest species of deer in the world, with the southern pudu being native in southern Chili and southwestern Argentina and are often found in humid rainforest areas, according to the University of Michigan School of Zoology. The deer consists on a mainly vegetarian diet.
The current population of the deer is unknown, but experts believe that it is around 10,000. The small number of the pudus has it on a Species Survival Plan.
'Southern pudus are on an Association of Zoos and Aquariums provisional Species Survival Plan, which means every animal is crucial to the North American population,' Nashville Zoo said in a statement.
The Nashville Zoo has not released a name for the latest addition.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Zoo welcomes fawn of the world's smallest deer. Meet the pudu
