Hellabrunn welcomes Kirk’s dik-diks – one of the world’s smallest antelopes

Hellabrunn Zoo has welcomed some new arrivals – with the arrival of the Kirk’s dik-diks, one of the world’s smallest antelope species has moved to Munich. These dainty even-toed ungulates can now be seen opposite the petting area at the Isar entrance.

With a shoulder height of just around 35 to 45 centimetres and a weight of three to seven kilograms, Kirk’s dik-diks are among the smallest antelopes in the world. They are native to the bush and dry savannahs of East and South-West Africa. They owe their name to their characteristic alarm call, which sounds like ‘dik-dik’. Kirk’s dik-diks usually live in pairs within fixed territories; they are diurnal and feed mainly on leaves, shoots, buds and fruit. They meet almost all their fluid requirements through their diet.

“With the Kirk’s dik-diks, we are enriching the animal collection at Hellabrunn with a fascinating species of antelope that many visitors are probably not yet familiar with. Despite their small size, these animals display fascinating behaviour and are a wonderful addition to our collection,” says Lena Bockreiß, who, as a curator at Hellabrunn, is responsible for ungulates, amongst other things.

According to the IUCN, Kirk’s dik-diks are not currently classified as an endangered species. Nevertheless, their natural habitats face various challenges due to changes in the bush and savannah landscapes. Keeping the species as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) supports coordinated breeding within zoological institutions, with the aim of maintaining genetically diverse populations and preserving valuable knowledge about the species.

The two animals have already settled in well to their new home and can now be observed opposite the petting area at the Isar entrance.

Translated with DeepL / AI