Cologne Zoo Welcomes Newborn South Pudu, Yenai

A newborn South Pudu, one of the world’s smallest deer, was born at Cologne Zoo on 15 May. The calf, named Yenai, is the daughter of Yadira – originally from Rotterdam – and Alvess, a native Cologne-born male whose bloodline is rare in the European breeding population.

The birth raises the zoo’s group to seven individuals, the second‑largest collection of South Pudu in Germany and part of a continent‑wide total of about 80 animals kept in 23 zoos. Conservationists note the species is endangered, with habitat loss and competition threatening wild populations in Chile and Argentina. The successful breeding is described as a rare achievement for the species in captivity.