PREVIEW

Woburn Safari Park is having a full-blown baby boom this summer.


From penguin chicks doing their first waddles to fluffy alpacas, it’s been a heart-melting season of new life for staff and visitors to the Safari Park.

Among the new arrivals are four Asian short-clawed otter pups born on 30 May to parents Beatrix and Kovu.


The playful new arrivals are already being doted on by their older siblings, especially big brother Thiên thần, who’s taken on a proud nurturing role. Keepers have now completed the pups first health check and microchipping, confirming they’re all thriving. The species is classed as vulnerable, making every birth vital for their conservation.

Three alpaca babies also arrived this June at the Alpaca Outpost. Liddia, Smithy and Teak each gave birth to healthy youngsters, born to dad Pirro, the herd’s alpha male. With two sporting soft fawn coats and one being a striking deep brown, the ‘cria’, as baby alpaca are known, are already winning hearts. While they’re still too young to take part in the guest feeding sessions, they can often be seen sticking close to their mums and investigating their surroundings with wide-eye curiosity.

Woburn’s Humboldt penguin colony has also grown, with five fluffy chicks hatching across three family groups. Leaf and Salsa welcomed Jive and Mambo, first-timers Wobble and Spud are proud parents to Maris and Piper, whilst Koopa and Wasabi hatched little Bowser. The chicks are closely monitored by keepers and are already starting to show their personalities. Daily enrichment like bubbles and float toys, keep the growing colony active and happy.

Ziggy, a critically endangered eastern mountain bongo calf was also born in May, while Zeke, a Bactrian camel was born in April.