Southern Pudu
(Pudu puda)
Habitat
Southern pudu inhabit dense, temperate forests containing thick bamboo understories
from sea level to 5,500 feet (1,676 m)
Height
14-18 inches (36-46 cm) high at the shoulder
Weight
14-30 pounds (6.4-13.6 kg)
Life
Span
Life span in the wild is estimated at 12-14 years; southern pudu live in zoos
about 15 years
Diet
In the wild: Herbaceous vegetation including bamboo,
leaves, bark, twigs, buds, blossoms, fruit and berries.
At
the zoo: Alfalfa, leafeater biscuits, herbivore pellets,
some fruits and vegetables and browse.
Reproduction
Females
(does) become sexually mature as early as 1 year. Although males (bucks) reach
sexual maturity shortly after females, they often don't breed until
18-24 months of age when they become large and seasoned enough to successfully
compete for females with other mature male pudus. Southern pudu mate
in the fall and give birth in the spring (November-January in the southern
hemisphere). Gestation is approximately seven months. Females usually
bear a single fawn weighing about 29 ounces (822 g).
Life Cycle
A fawn usually remains hidden for a number
of days after birth, only emerging to suckle when the mother visits.
After a few weeks, the fawn joins its mother in her normal range. Young
stay with their mother for eight to 12 months. Male pudu do not contribute
to the rearing of young. Young southern pudu lose their white spots
after about 3 to 5 months of age. At 8 months, males begin growing
their first spike antlers which eventually reach 2-4 inches (5-10 cm)
in length when they are 7 years old.
Southern
Pudu - World's Second Smallest Deer!
The southern pudu, also called by the Chilean venadito, is the
second smallest deer in the world. The northern pudu is the smallest deer. With its very
short legs and small, low-slung body, the southern pudu can easily move through
dense vegetation and among rocks to escape predators. Predators include puma,
fox, condor and domestic dogs. When pursued, southern pudu run in a zigzag
pattern and will climb trunks of trees that are leaning over streams or bluffs
to escape their pursuer.
Using Smell to Stay in Touch
In the wild, southern pudu are primarily normally active at twilight and during the night. The live in dense underbrush and bamboo thickets.
Pudus tend to live alone or in pairs. These deer are almost never found in groups
of more than three animals. Scent marking is an important mode of communication.
More common among males than females, scent marking is accomplished by secretions
from the preorbital and frontal scent glands, as well as by urination and defecation
in specific sites. Scent glands are sacs that open on the skin surface and
discharge a strong-smelling secretion. Nearly all deer species posses these
scent glands. One theory explaining why deer possess these glands is that the
scent, when spread on trees or leaves, enables other deer to recognize their
presence and marks their territory.
Location
at the Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo's southern pudu are located near
the red pandas and cranes in the Temperate Forest. Relatively little
is known about pudu in the wild. By studying them at Woodland Park
Zoo, we may answer questions about these deer and contribute to their
survival in the wild.
Conservation
Connection
The southern
pudu is an endangered species. Their future in the wild remains
uncertain. As their natural habitat is diminished due to overpopulation,
clearing of land for agriculture, logging, hunting and other human
activities. Relatively little is known about pudu in the wild. By
studying them at Woodland Park Zoo, we may answer questions about
these deer and contribute to their survival in the wild.
How You Can Help!
The effort to save threatened and endangered species requires cooperation
and support at the international, national, regional and individual
levels. You can help in this cause. Join and become active in Woodland
Park zoo and other conservation organizations of your choice. Please
do not buy products made from wild animal parts. Contact your elected
representatives and express your views about conservation of endangered
species and wild habitats.
To find out way you can support conservation programs at the zoo, visit our Conservation and Donate sections, or contact
Woodland Park Zoo at webkeeper@zoo.org . Learn
other ways you can help conserve wildlife and the habitats they require
for survival by visiting our How You Can Help page.
Sources and Suggested Reading
Macdonald, David, ed. 1993. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Facts
on File, Inc., New York, NY. 895 p. Redform, Kent H. and Eisenberg,
John F. 1992. Mammals of the Neotropics: The Southern Cone.
Volume 2. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London. 430
p.
Whitehead, G. Kenneth. 1993. The Whitehead
Encyclopedia of Deer. Voyager Press, Stillwater, MN. 597 p.