Tiny antelope arrives at zoo for breeding scheme

Twiglet the dik-dik arrived at All Things Wild from a zoo in Preston, staff said

One of the world’s smallest species of antelope has arrived at a zoo as part of an international breeding effort to protect the species.

The female dik-dik called Twiglet arrived at All Things Wild in Honeybourne near Evesham, Worcestershire, from Wild Discovery Zoo in Preston.

She measures about 35cm (10 inches) and it is hoped she will be joined at the zoo by a male companion later this year, staff say.

The zoo told BBC Hereford & Worcester that although the species was not currently listed as endangered, they were under threat in the wild from poaching and habitat encroachment.

“Dik-diks are very shy and timid animals,” said the zoo’s animal manager Matthew Parker.

“Although many populations of dik-dik antelope remain in good numbers across large parts of Africa, there is emerging evidence to suggest that some localised populations are dwindling.”