In early November 2024, a rare pudu fawn was born at an Argentine biopark, providing scientists and conservationists with a unique opportunity to study this small and elusive deer. The male fawn, named Lenga after a tree found in the Andean Patagonian forest, weighs just 1.21 kg (2.7 lbs). Pudus are one of the world’s smallest deer, growing to a height of only 50 cm (20 inches) and weighing up to 12 kg (26.5 lbs). Lenga’s birth highlights the pudu’s vulnerable status, as fewer than 10,000 remain in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as near-threatened due to threats from wild dogs and other predators.

Lenga’s birth offers hope for the conservation of pudus. It gives researchers the chance to gather valuable data on the species. For the first few months, Lenga will stay with its mother, Chalten, and father, Nicolino, drinking milk before transitioning to a plant-based diet. Its white spots provide camouflage, protecting it from predators. The Temaiken Foundation, which manages the biopark, hopes that studying Lenga will improve understanding of pudu behavior and conservation efforts for both pudus and other species in Patagonia, like the huemul.