Chester Zoo keepers hand-rear Kirk's Dik Dik antelope
22nd January 2010
A tiny antelope is being hand-reared by a keeper at Chester Zoo after she was abandoned by her mother. It is believed the cold weather may have dampened the maternal instincts of the Kirk Dik Dik's parent.
The species, native to Kenya, Tanzania, and Namibia, arrived at the zoo in 2008 and the little one is the first birth.
The youngster, as yet unnamed, is being bottle fed milk five times a day and will be given a helping hand until she is old enough to eat on her own.
Shoots and fruit
Senior keeper Helen Massey has been playing "mum" to the new arrival, which will eventually grow to about 40cm (16in) tall.
"Kirk's Dik Dik is one of the smaller of the antelope species but what they lack in stature, they make up for in appeal," she said.
"Our addition is growing stronger by the day and we hope she will be holding her own in the next few weeks," said Ms Massey.
The Kirk's Dik Dik's usual diet is buds, shoots and fruit.
The species usually live for about ten years.
Source: BBC
