The Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna marked a historic moment just before Christmas with the birth of its first-ever Kirk’s dik-dik calf, a female.

The tiny antelopes, native to Africa, arrived at the zoo in 2014 and are among the smallest of their kind, growing no bigger than a hare when fully mature.

“In the wild, being so small means they face many predators. But dik-diks are well-equipped with excellent eyesight, sharp hearing and a strong sense of smell. Their brown coat also helps them blend into tall grass. Here at the zoo, you’ll often only catch a glimpse of the young one’s distinctive snout poking out from the hay,” said zoo director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck.

Years of careful planning went into the breeding programme. “Just because males and females share an enclosure doesn’t mean they’ll automatically breed – there needs to be the right chemistry,” explained zoological curator Folko Balfanz. “This calf is an important addition to the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme for this species.”

The zoo is now encouraging animal lovers to lend their support by sponsoring the Kirk’s dik-diks. Sponsorships start at just five euros a month, offering an easy way to contribute to the conservation effort, the zoo added.