Posting the results on social media, the zoo said that the adorable three-month-old pudu, which at only 40cm tall is the second smallest deer in the world, has been named Pralinka, after the Belgian chocolate praline.
In a Facebook message to its followers, the zoo wrote: “PRALINKA - this is the name you have chosen for our little female pudu!
“The name Pralinka got more than 70% of the final votes.
“The vote for the name of the female pudu went far beyond the borders of Poland. We received many name suggestions from all over the world!
“Pralinka became known in the United States, India, Greece, Germany and Japan, among others.
“It's safe to say that the little one has made a celebrity career!”
Born on July 16 to proud parents Eva and Pitchu, the zoo added that although Pralinka is still shy and hides away from the public, “we assure you that it is worth trying to say hello in person to both Pralinka and her adorable relatives.
“Grow beautifully, lovely Pralinka!”
The southern pudu is a native species to Chile and Argentina and is not to be confused with the northern pudu, which inhabits the northern Andes region of Latin America and is the world’s smallest deer.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, which tracks the extinction risk of animals worldwide, classifies the southern pudu as ‘Near Threatened’.
