Baby Blue Duiker

Posted by Sheri Amsel Jan 7, 2007

While visiting my favorite veterinarian at the zoo where he was working, I discovered that a blue duiker had just given birth a couple of days before. I have always been fascinated with this tiny mammal. How could anyone not be charmed by a little antelope, the size of your cat? (Actually, my cat is probably fatter than most blue duikers, but that’s another story.)

I had pictured the nursery to be like many of the zoo enclosures with cement stalls, hay and barred doors. So I was startled to see how clean, open and brightly lit the nursery was. It made sense really as these are expensive exotic animals and get excellent around the clock care. This was no cow barn. In a little stall, with a thick bed of fresh, sweet-smelling hay was a tiny duiker with golden fur.

The veterinarian said I could pet her so I got on my knees and stroked her little arched back. She gazed at me with huge, dark liquid eyes. Her little pointed snout nosed my hand. Her fur was softer than velvet. The vet was doing some chores and talking on the phone so I crept in closer and touched her tiny hooves. She didn’t respond to it like a domestic animal might, but she didn’t shy away either. So I pet her and murmured silly things to her and we both relaxed.

When the vet came back to check on us I was embarrassed to realize I was laying right down in the hay with her. He asked me if I wanted a ration of grain like the rest of the animals. I got up reluctantly. Even as a full grown adult she would not top 20 pounds, but as a baby she was one of the more adorable mammals of the rainforest.