The Royal Antelope Isn’t King-Sized

Does the phrase “tea-cup antelope” mean anyhting to anyone? Well if you’ve ever heard of west Africa’s royal antelope, then you know what we’re talking about, because the royal antelope is no bigger than your average rabbit (most species of antelope are about the same size as a deer). With a height of only 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters), and a weight of no more than 20 pounds (3.6 kilograms), it is the smallest of all antelopes. A shy and reclusive species, not much is known about the royal antelope, but it’s been observed that they’re even smaller at birth, often fitting into the palm of the average human hand. Despite its small size, it’s able to survive in the wild because of its quickness and leaping ability. Seeing how cute it is, and its tiny, crate and litterbox friendly size, it may only be a matter of time before the royal antelope becomes a popular exotic pet.