Adorable Baby Dik-Dik Antelope Is Only 19cm Tall

AN orphaned Kirk’s dik-dik antelope has become Chester Zoo’s newest arrival

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Videographer / director: ZooBorns
Producer: Hannah Stevens, Ruby Coote
Editor: Sonia Estal

The adorable baby antelope has been named Thanos

The 19 centimetre tall baby lost his mother soon after his birth on Sunday 8 January and zookeepers have become his carers.

Named Thanos, the precious calf is doing well with five bottle feeds a day until he is old enough to eat on his own.

Unfortunately Thanos' mother died soon after he was born

Assistant team manager Kim Wood and keeper Barbara Dreyer have both been playing mum to the adorable calf.

Kim said: “The youngster is beginning to find his feet now and is really starting to hold is own. He is doing ever so well and is getting stronger by the day.

Zookeepers at Chester Zoo are stepping in to rear the alien-like fawn

“We’re hopeful that, in a few months time, we’ll be able to introduce him to some of the other members of our group of dik-diks.

“He may be tiny but he is certainly making a big impression on everyone at the zoo.”

Kirk's dik-diks have tiny tear drop markings just under their eyes which make them look four-eyed

Thanos will soon join his fellow dik-diks in the zoos enclosure

Kirk's dik-diks get their name from Sir John Kirk, a 19th century Scottish naturalist, as well as the sound they make when feeling from danger.

Although he is already one of the smallest members of the animal kingdom, Thanos will not grow too much more as dik-diks grow to a maximum size of 40cm - making them one of the smallest species of antelope in the world.

As one of the smallest antelope species in the world dik-diks only grow up to 40cm tall old Thanos is only 19cm tall

The tiny antelope are native to North East Africa and conservationists say they mark their territory with fluid from glands between their toes adjust under their eyes.