PUDU Facts - Amazing Facts

amazing facts about pudu

They are classified in the New World deer subfamily Capreolinae within the deer family Cervidae. The Mapudungun pudu or pudu are two species of South American deer from the genus Pudu, the world's smallest deer.The pudus are the world's smallest deer, with the Southern Pudu being slightly larger than the Northern Pudu. The pudu is a solitary animal whose behavior in the wild is largely unknown because of its secretive nature.

They bend bamboo shoots horizontally in order to walk on them and eat from higher branches.

The pudus are herbivorous, consuming leaves from low trees, shrubs, succulent sprouts, herbs, ferns, buds, tree bark , fruits.

When the pudu feels threatened, it flees usually in a zig-zag pattern and sometimes climb the trees .They can survive without drinking water for long periods due to the high water content of the succulent foliage in their diet.

The southern pudu is an endangered species. Their future in the wild remains uncertain.  As their natural habitat is diminished due to overpopulation, clearing of land for agriculture, logging, hunting and other human development activities.