Have You Heard of a Tufted Deer? See a Newborn at Potter Park Zoo

If you haven't heard of a tufted deer, you can now see and newborn with its parents at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.

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What is a Tufted Deer?

I have seen a lot of deer in my day but never one that has canine fangs or dark fur. Then again, I have never been to China where tufted deer are found in the wild.

The tufted deer is a small species of deer that gets its name from the prominent tuft of hair found on its forehead. Female tufted deer do not have the canine fangs as the males do.

The tufted deer population is beginning to struggle with overhunting and loss of habitat these animals are struggling to survive and that is why many are being brought to zoos around the globe to help increase their population without the chance of them being hunted.

Where Can You See a Tufted Deer?

The good news is you don't have to go all the way to China to see a tufted deer. You can see a newborn and its parents at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan.

As you have noticed in all the pictures above, there are some noticeable differences in the tufted deer since there are 4 different subspecies. The picture above shows a female newborn from the Potter Park Zoo that was born on April 10. These are a tiny species with this one weighing just under 4 pounds.

One thing is for sure, for just under 4 pounds there are a couple hundred pounds of cuteness.

According to FOX 17, the fawn was born to parents Lucy and Dezi (Names from the Old TV Show "I Love Lucy"). This was part of a breeding program called the Tufted Deer Species Survival Plan that makes sure there is genetic diversity and healthy populations. You can follow the fawn's progress by clicking here.