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This adorable baby animal has just been born at Pairi Daiza!

undefined undefined 22 juillet 2025 undefined 17h00

The Editor

A mini water buck that’s already stealing hearts

On Wednesday, July 16, Pairi Daiza announced the birth of a young male sitatunga, a little-known but utterly adorable species of water antelope. Still cozy under the watchful eye of his super protective mom, the baby is slowly starting to explore the swamps (yes, that’s their natural playground). And with his light fur sprinkled with lovely white patterns, it’s safe to say he has everything to charm both the young and the young at heart.

So what’s in a name? The sitatunga, also known as the water buck, is an antelope that normally resides in the wetlands of Africa. While the little ones are spotted like tropical Bambi, adult males sport darker fur and grow spiral horns that can measure up to 90 cm (that’s quite impressive!).

A birth that smells like a lovely end to summer

Pairi Daiza, with its immersive gardens and ultra-carefully maintained enclosures, is already one of the most stylish wildlife parks in Europe. And this birth, just in time for summer, is perfectly timed: it's a great reason to plan a little Belgian getaway before school starts. With giant pandas, penguins, elephants, and now this baby waterbuck, we’re definitely dealing with a high level of cuteness.

So if you want to catch a glimpse of this little spotted one before it grows up (and turns into a strong one with horns), you know what you have to do.

Pairi Daiza, Brugelette - about 1.5 hours from Lille
Open every day during the holidays.
Info & reservations here