Zeyar, the UK’s only baby brow antlered deer, licks her lips after getting her breakfast bottle from lead keeper Helen Massey.
The tiny arrival, who weighed just 3.7kg when she was born, is going from strength-to-strength thanks to Helen’s care and dedication.
Zeyar was rejected by her mum leaving Helen to ensure she gets her four bottles a day.
Brow antlered deers are classed by conservationists as endangered meaning Zeyar’s arrival is great news for the future of her species.
Fast Facts
• The species is native to Myanmar (Burma)
• They live on open grassy plains, swamps and deciduous forests in the vicinity of water
• Their numbers are decreasing in the wild
• The most obvious threat to the deer is from hunting, which in addition to local consumption of meat is driven by a thriving trade in bushmeat and an East Asian market for traditional medicinal products derived from the species, as well as an international market for trophy antlers
• Their name is due to the shape of the males antlers
• Latin name is Rucervus eldii thamin
• Zeyar is Burmese for ‘success’
• Zeyar is the only baby brow antlered to have been born in the UK this year
• Chester Zoo is the only zoo in the UK currently breeding the species