PREVIEW

Keepers at Newquay Zoo are delighted to announce that Philippine spotted deer couple, Belle and Neil, have become parents for a second time.

Philippine spotted deer are one of the rarest species of deer in the world and are classed as Critically Endangered. However, the Cornish Zoo has had great success in breeding Philippine spotted deer and are 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 is 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 – a number of animals were released into the wild, helping to boost the native population significantly.

In addition, the zoo also has a new dusky pademelon joey. Pademelons are small, shy marsupials that look similar to wallabies. The baby was actually born late last year, but the joey has only been seen poking its head out of mum Nora’s pouch. The joey is getting braver every day and is starting to venture 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.”

Newquay Zoo is part of the conservation organisation Wild Planet Trust, which is dedicated to protecting habitats and helping halt species decline. In providing a home for rare and endangered animals, it is helping visitors and followers to learn more about their importance.