PREVIEW

An adorable baby pygmy hippo has been captured exploring the great outdoors for the first time.

The one-month-old has begun venturing around her outdoor enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo - much to the delight of visitors.

Pictures show pint-sized Piper padding across the sand, sniffing out her new surroundings and sticking close to mum Gloria.

And the youngster is proving increasingly adventurous as she discovers there is a whole new world beyond her indoor quarters.

Her outdoor pad comes complete with a pool and sandy areas for the curious calf to investigate.

Keepers are slowly increasing the amount of time Piper spends outside as she becomes bolder and more inquisitive.

But mum Gloria is never far away, keeping a watchful eye on her daughter as she explores her new surroundings.

The pair can now be seen exploring the habitat together as Piper gets used to life in the great outdoors.