Meet Haechan the Pudu at the L.A. Zoo

Meet Haechan, a southern pudu born at the Los Angeles Zoo on December 19, 2018, to first-time parents Steph and Mario. The Zoo launched a Facebook fundraiser to name the pudu, with fans and followers of both the L.A. Zoo and K-pop star Lee Dong-hyuck, a.k.a. Haechan of the group NCT, taking particular interest in the Zoo’s newest offspring. Over the years, fans of K-pop star Haechan have given him the moniker “pudu” due to his likeness to this adorable little animal, even sharing their own fan art and photo comparisons online.

A representative from NCT's record label SM Entertainment said, "It was great hearing about the new birth at the zoo! We are thankful to all of NCT and Haechan's fans for such a wonderful gift to us and to the zoo. Haechan was delighted to hear the news, and expressed his gratitude to his fans. We hope the best for the pudu and its new life at the Los Angeles Zoo."

The fundraising goal to officially name the fawn Haechan was met within three hours. Proceeds from the fundraiser support conservation of endangered, vulnerable, threatened, and near threatened species such as the pudu, whose wild populations are decreasing due to habitat loss. For more details about the pudu, please visit https://www.lazoo.org/2019/01/k-pop.

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