After about five and a half months of gestation, a Kirk Dik Dik baby saw the light of day. With a shoulder height of only 45 centimeters, Kirk-Dik-Diks are one of the smallest antelope breeds in the world and, even when fully grown, are only slightly larger than a hare, according to a broadcast on Thursday.
The young animal currently weighs less than a kilogram and delights with its googly eyes. The Dik Dik has a strong sense of sight to recognize dangers at an early stage. At the last moment it flees at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour in zigzag jumps. To protect against the heat of their home range, the animals are able to cool breathing air in their elongated noses, earning them the nickname “dwarf proboscis dik diks”.
The main food of the small mammals consists of grasses, herbs, leaves and young shoots, but they do not spurn small fruits either. The young animal is suckled by its mother for about eight to nine months before it becomes independent and can be given to another zoo.
Source: Nachrichten
