World’s smallest deer steals hearts at Queens Zoo

The world’s smallest deer has taken its first steps at the Wildlife Conversation Society Queens Zoo in New York.

The super-cute southern pudu fawn is still nursing but will soon begin munching on fresh leaves, grain, kale, carrots and hay.

The pudu is the world’s smallest deer species. They bark when they sense danger and run in a zig-zag pattern when chased by predators.

They are only 12 to 14 inches tall when fully grown and are understandably shy, choosing to hide in thick vegetation.

Southern pudu are native to Chile and Argentina and are designated Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Wildlife Conservation Society is working to curb the pudu’s habitat loss and other threats to the species.

The arrival of the fawn brings the total number of pudu on exhibit at the Queens Zoo to three. This is the third year in a row this pair has successfully raised a fawn.

But the jury is still out on whether pudus are cuter than quokkas, the famed smiling macropods native to Western Australia.