Pitter patter of tiny feet at Twycross Zoo
TWYCROSS Zoo has welcomed a new four-footed arrival.
A male Michie’s tufted deer has been born, the first offspring of Fatima and Mitch.
They have taken very well to parenthood, sitting with the fawn in their den and carefully watching over him.
The subspecies of tufted deer is a small species with a brown coat on its back, a bright white flash of fur on its tail and a tuft of black hair on its forehead.
Males aggressively defend their territory using their tusks as weapons.
It originates from south-eastern China and is a close relative of the muntjac, which can be seen in the South of England.
The fawn is now available for visitors to come and see prancing around.
The latest addition is another success in the Zoo’s breeding programmes, which help zoos around the world maintain genetically healthy populations of animals, acting as a safety net for endangered species in the wild.
Michie’s tufted deer is usually a solitary species and generally most active at dawn and dusk, making it difficult to see.
It is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as it is overhunted in parts of Asia.
Fatima came from Berlin to Twycross in 2016 while Mitch was born in the zoo in 2014.
Tufted deer mate between late Autumn and Winter, with the male barking loudly to attract the attention of nearby females.
Fawns are usually born in the Summe and learn to stand very quickly after birth.
Although Fatima and Mitch are first time parents, they have taken very well to the new member of their family, both sitting with the fawn in the den and carefully watching over him.
Yianna Cooling, large mammals team leader at Twycross, said: “We are delighted to welcome another healthy baby at Twycross Zoo.
“The little fawn is faring very well and is keen to explore his home.
“It is important to maintain a healthy population of these animals in zoos across the world and we are proud to watch the baby doing so well. While the fawn looks very cute now, within a year or two we will see him grow prominent, tusk-like, canines in the upper jaw, which mature males use for fighting during the mating season or during territorial disputes.”