It has been a very busy period for the team at Newquay Zoo with the arrival of endangered species and a flurry of recent animal births.
Keepers at the Cornish Zoo have announced that Philippine spotted deer couple, Belle and Neil, have become parents for a second time following the arrival of fawn Dylan in 2022.
Philippine deer are one of the rarest species of deer in the world and are classed as critically endangered.
However, Newquay Zoo has had great success in breeding the deer and is looking forward to the public being able to meet the newest member of the family.
Elsewhere, golden lion tamarin, Missy, has just given birth to a pair of babies. These tiny monkeys can already be seen being carried on their mother’s back.
This has become a real success story for Newquay Zoo, as golden lion tamarins were once classified as critically endangered by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List.
But thanks to a captive breeding programme involving 41 zoos and institutions from around the world – including Newquay’s sister site, Paignton Zoo – several animals were released into the wild, helping to boost the native population significantly.
In addition, the zoo has also welcomed a new dusky Pademelon Joey. Pademelons are small, shy marsupials that look similar to wallabies.
Although he was born late last year, the joey has only been seen poking its head out of mum Nora’s pouch. But as he starts to get braver, he has begun venturing out of the pouch for brief periods of time.
John Meek, curator of plants and animals at Newquay Zoo, said: “We are so pleased to see so many babies, including some very rare species, here at the zoo.
“We can’t wait for visitors to come in and meet them all.
“And that’s not all! Bird breeding season is well underway, with several species – including our Humboldt penguins – already looking after eggs, so we may have some new babies here at Newquay in a few months’ time.”
READ NEXT: Cornwall now home to UK's first rescued puffins - straight from Iceland
Newquay Zoo is part of the conservation organisation Wild Planet Trust, which is dedicated to protecting habitats and helping halt species decline.
Providing a home for rare and endangered animals is helping visitors and followers to learn more about their importance.
To find out more about Newquay Zoo, and to visit, go to: www.newquayzoo.org.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here