Bristol Zoo welcomes extremely rare spotted deer fawn - here's how you can help name it
Bristol Zoo welcomes an exceptionally rare spotted deer fawn and invites the public to help choose its name.
An adorable male Philippe spotted deer fawn was born to parents Eugene and Pandora in January.
The adorable fawn has been described by keepers as ‘healthy, alert, and feeding well’ and is the pair’s second offspring, following the birth of Maliit last January.
He already weighs 2.9kg and stands at around 30cm as just a few weeks old, roughly the weight of a bag of sugar and the height of a small desk lamp, and marks a significant step forward for a species that is under serious threat in the wild.
There are less than 700 Philippine spotted deer remaining in the wild, with the population declining due to habitat loss and illegal hunting.
Eugene and Pandora arrived at Bristol Zoo Project in 2023 from Chester Zoo and Colchester Zoo, respectively, after being brought together as part of an international breeding programme for the species.
Sarah Gedman, Curator of Mammals at Bristol Zoo Project, said: “Any birth is special, but when it’s a species as threatened as the Philippine spotted deer, it’s especially meaningful.
“This is Eugene and Pandora’s second fawn, following the birth of Maliit last year, which is a really positive sign.
“They are experienced parents now, and the new arrival is doing brilliantly, staying close to mum, feeding well, but also zooming around the habitat.
“Older brother Maliit is proving to be a respectful older brother. As Maliit reaches maturity he will have the opportunity to contribute to this crucial breeding programme at another zoo.
“This new fawn has an important role to play in the future of its species.
“In the Philippines, we’ve been working with local communities since 2014 to reduce illegal hunting and protect the remaining forests on Panay and Negros Islands. Every individual born under conservation care really matters.”
To celebrate the birth of the fawn, keepers at Bristol Zoo Project have shortlisted three names inspired by our conservation work in the Philippines, and you can vote for your favourite via their Facebook page.
The shortlisted names are:
- Buwan, which translates to 'moon' from Filipino
- Cebu, an island in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines where the deer used to roam
- Mabilis, which translates to 'fast/quick/speedy' from Filipino
To book tickets for Bristol Zoo Project, click here.