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Tiny Deer Faces Down Rhino at Wroclaw Zoo in Viral Video

The zoo attributes the brief sparring to a testosterone surge linked to a mate in heat with the animals continuing to cohabit peacefully.

Overview

  • Caretaker-shot footage shows Mundzak, a Chinese muntjac, head-butting Maruska the rhinoceros before the larger animal retreats inside their shared yard.
  • Zoo staff say the behavior reflects seasonal hormones as the male deer reacted to his partner’s heat cycle rather than sustained aggression.
  • Officials note the species have lived together for years at Wroclaw Zoo with separate bedrooms and a common outdoor enclosure.
  • A follow-up post shows the animals calmly eating hay side by side, indicating relations returned to normal.
  • The clip has drawn more than 12 million views on the zoo’s social profiles as global outlets amplified the story.