News / Bristol Zoo Gardens
Small but perfectly formed
Three of the world’s smallest antelopes have arrived at the Wild Place Project.
Croissant, Streusel and Sponge arrived a few days ago and are settling in after their transfers from France, Berlin and the Cotswolds.
Croissant is a two-year-old male, from Amneville in France; Streusel, a 21-month-old female from Zoo Berlin, and the third female, who is seven-months-old, is called Sponge. who came from Cotswold Wildlife Park.
is needed now More than ever
Animal manager Will Walker said: “These beautiful creatures have many amazing physical characteristics. Their eyes, which are surprisingly large in relation to their size, provide more than just sight. Preorbital glands appear as a black spot below the inside corner of each of their eyes and these glands produce a dark, sticky secretion used to scent-mark their territories.
“Dik-diks have also evolved a cooling mechanism within their snouts that stops them from overheating, even in extreme temperatures of up to 37° C. This also helps minimise their need for water.”
Kirk’s dik-diks occur in eastern and southern Africa and the unusual name for the species is derived from their call.
If they are discovered by a predator they run in swift, zigzag like patterns until they reach refuge. It is during this flight that they emit trumpet-like ‘zik-zik’ calls to raise an alarm or harass predators and publicise the presence of a mated pair.
When fully-grown dik-diks grow to an average height of 40cm and usually weigh between 4-5kg.
Read more: Crane your neck at Wild Place
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