BRANDYWINE — Clover, a southern pudu at the Brandywine Zoo, welcomed a male baby July 12, the zoo and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Friday.

The new fawn is a significant contribution to the North American pudu population, as both Clover and her baby are in healthy condition.

Clover, who has been at the zoo since April 2021, was joined by Ande, a 1-year-old male southern pudu, at the end of November from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Wash. Their pairing is part of an Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plan, a conservation breeding program where vulnerable species in human care are optimally matched for genetic diversity to increase the population.

A name for the baby, who weighed in at 20 ounces – or four times the size of a hamster, will be chosen soon. Check the Delaware State Parks and Brandywine Zoo Facebook pages for updates as the baby progresses.

While they do have access to their exterior habitat at the zoo, Clover and her fawn are primarily keeping to their holding area for now, especially during hot summer temperatures. If they are seen in their exterior habitat, the public is asked to keep their voices down at this time.

Southern pudu are the second smallest deer in the world at 14 to 17 inches at shoulder height. There are fewer than 10,000 southern pudu left in the wild in Argentina and Chile. This pudu species is considered near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

While not currently endangered, the population in the wild is declining. Pudu face threats , including habitat loss due to logging and agriculture, feral dogs and poaching for the pet trade.

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums zoos, including the Brandywine Zoo, are working to maintain a long-term, genetically valuable population of southern pudu through their Species Survival Plan program.

There are only 45 pudu at 15 institutions in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Nine of these animals, including eight males, are located at a facility in Argentina, so a new male in the U.S. population is beneficial to the population.

The Brandywine Zoo’s pudu were acquired as part of the zoo’s master plan, which was completed in 2018 and reestablishes the zoo’s commitment as an active contributor to the AZA’s conservation breeding programs.

The Brandywine Zoo, managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation, is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is one of 238 accredited zoos and aquariums worldwide that meet the highest standard in animal care and welfare.