All About Adorable and Really Small Pudu Deer!
What's adorable, and really, really small? The pudu deer, of course! They are also the smallest species of deer in the world. But there are actually two species of pudu deer, the northern pudu, and the southern pudu. That is not all, as the pudu deer turns out to be quite an interesting species, which you will find out gradually, that is, if you want to keep reading this piece.
Standing tall: The pudu deer can reach a height of 33 inch approximately. But the southern pudu tends to be a bit bigger than their northern counterparts.
Weight: Pudus tend to weigh around 12 kg, but the highest weight recorded was 13.4 kg. Definitely baby-like weight.
'The solitary reaper': The pudus are sort of introverts when it comes to social interaction. They have their own territory (or homes), which they carefully mark with dung. But then, these shy and anxious animals do come out of their comfort zones to date. Err, mate. And their babies, the fawns, although they are fully grown by 3 months, tend to stay with their mothers for 8-12 months.
Shades of grey: The neck and shoulder of an elder pudu tends to change colour during winter, turning into a grey-brown colour. Guess the winter blues are a thing even for them.
Deer anxiety: A frightened pudu will bark, and an angry pudu will shiver. Sounds the other way round, but we are allowed our idiosyncrasies. It is also an interesting fact that lack of sufficient data on pudu is mainly due to the fact that they are highly secretive. Apart from their total reluctance to transform into social butterflies, the pudus have made sure to lurk only during the morning hours, late afternoon, and evenings. They are also quite delicate, as 'rumour' has it that if frightened, they develop cardiac-related complications. They are easily stressed. Forget about tigers, or elephants, the pudu deer sounds like a perfect spirit animal for someone who is battling existential crisis, a bad economy, and social anxiety!
Whine and dine: This nature of the pudus to be cautious at all times serves as a major impediment while hunting for food. They are herbivores, feeding on vines, or leaves, and even fallen fruits, and this massive intake of 'succulent foliage' actually comes in handy, as they can go for long periods without water.
Age, and quirks: They tend to live for 8-10 years, although the longest recorded lifespan stands at 15 years, and 9 months, which is very rare. Also, if you plan on chasing a pudu, be prepared to watch it run in a zigzag pattern!
The northern pudu can be found in the Northern Andes (Columbia, Ecuador, Peru), and the southern pudu in Southern Andes, but both the species are endangered, and are sadly included in the IUCN Red List. The widespread destruction of their rainforests, preying, illegal trade are some of the reasons why they are in danger. Let's hope that people come to their senses one fine day, and save the pudu deer from this terrible fate.
Post Written by - Lopamudra
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