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New Baby Deer Joins Our Wildlife Rehab & Release Program


We wanted to introduce you to our tiniest new friend and our latest wildlife rehabilitation and release resident. Once he has grown and is independent, we will release him on the property to live his life as a wild deer.

He is an Amazonian brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira). An average adult weighs around 16 kg (34 lbs) and is 1050–850 mm (33–42 in) long. This little guy is approximately six weeks old, so he is significantly smaller. We jokingly call him a “Barbie deer” because he is so cute and tiny that he almost looks unreal. He is very independent and has captured our hearts. We have one other brown brocket deer here who is around four months old.

Adults live alone, but these two seem to enjoy spending time together. The little one is very independent; within a few hours of arriving, he began nibbling on grass. In contrast, the older one who has been here for over a month is still very picky with grazing, has just begun eating cut-up food well, and would prefer to stay on a bottle forever.

They were both rescued by SEMA in the aftermath of the wildfires that affected our region. It is unknown if they were orphaned in the fire or separated from their mothers. Regardless, we are very grateful that they were found and turned in to the local authorities and that they will ultimately be released into the wild to live life as they should.

Even though they are tiny, they are still stockier than the much larger deer we are used to in North America. They are tanks—just the tiniest tanks we’ve ever seen!

You can learn more about our Wildlife Rehab & Release program on our website here: https://globalelephants.org/our-wildlife-rehab-release-program/.

Comments(24)

  1. REPLY
    David Brickner says

    Sooo adorable! ThankU so much for their care. Just like the elephants, they are pure innocence! I wish you would let me come for 3-6 months to help take care of the elephants! It would be a dream come true!?

  2. REPLY
    Patricia Aguilar says

    You do so much good beyond your huge charges for any animals who need you.

  3. REPLY
    Nannette Stone says

    What a sweet little soul ?

  4. REPLY
    SHEILA says

    AAAHH SO GORGEOUS AND SWEET! POOR BABY LOST FROM MUMMA❗️??R U FEEDING HIM SOME MILK❓SO GLAD YOU ALL ARE HELPING HIM! NICE HE WILL NOT FEAR YOU HUMANS TOO MUCH AND HANG OUT IN THE JUNGLE! MAYBE TURN UP NOW AND THEN TO VISIT??❤️

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      yes, he gets a bottle 4 times a day.

  5. REPLY
    Elaine richard says

    Yay, tiny tanks!

  6. REPLY
    Cintia Abney says

    Ohh Trying to find out their Brazilian name. Its not veado campeiro nor veado mateiro (diff species names) Do you know their popular name locally in Portuguese?

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      mateiro

  7. REPLY
    Nancy Shaw says

    : )

  8. REPLY
    arie says

    What a sweetheart!!
    He ‘s one of the lucky unlucky ones, being rescued and cared for until he’s big enough to make it on his own ?❤️

  9. REPLY
    Patricia Hunt says

    Oooooh! I love those tiny tanks! ?

  10. REPLY
    Deanna Young says

    Oh how wonderful to be able to nurture these beautiful gentle souls of the forests . I have always fawned over them .? I would love to hear about BambiBarbie life from time to time and of course the other as well. This has made my day !

  11. REPLY
    Sherry says

    A very wonderful Christmas gift. Merry Christmas! I hope to see more of him!☺️♥️♥️

  12. REPLY
    Jillyp says

    They’re lovely ? ??

  13. REPLY
    Kelejan says

    Aw! You would look after the world if you could. Do you bottle feed him as well?

    • REPLY
      Kat Blais says

      Yes, he is receiving a bottle 4 times a day.

  14. REPLY
    Linda says

    Adorable. Thank heavens they were saved and turned over to you to rehab, lucky little fellows!

  15. REPLY
    Tammy says

    Sooo darn adorable just want to give them a hug and smooch!

  16. REPLY
    Nishant Bhajaria says

    They are so beautiful, just like all animals!

  17. REPLY
    Sallie says

    HOW ADORABLE & HOPEFUL IS THIS SWEET BABY, UNTOUCHED AND TEACHING US TO BE QUIET AND BE SUBTLE UNDERCOVER! ANOTHER WONDERFUL CRITTER FROM THE BUSH . . . I FEAR FOR ITS LIFE & FUTURE . . . SO BE WELL AND BE SAFE AS YOU CAN BE . . .

  18. REPLY
    Sallie says

    SO SWEET . . . I WONDER IF THEY ARE FASCINATED BY THE ELEPHANTS AND VISA VERSA! IT WOULD BE FUN TO SEE “BARBIE DEER” WALK WITH THE FOUR-PACK! THEY MIGHT BE AMUSED OR FASCINATED! OR MAYBE NOT . . .

  19. REPLY
    Wim says

    Especially the smallest friends need our protecting hands. They are adorable and heartwarming. All animals MATTER. ?

  20. REPLY
    Beji says

    Oh dear! They are precious!

  21. REPLY
    Rosie P says

    Adorable souls given another chance of life. Thank you for all you do.

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