Baby Agoutis Born
The first Hairy-rumped (or Black-backed) Agouti's to be born in the UK are being hand-reared at Newquay Zoo.
Animal Collection Manager John Meek explains "Newquay Zoo is the only holder of this species in this country making these two boys the first births in the UK. The first baby was born outside and we noticed very quickly that it was showing signs of hypothermia so we removed the baby and warmed him up and started milk feeds. The second baby was then also born outside and so we decided to remove him immediately to join his brother before he started suffering from the cold. They are gorgeous little things and like to run and jump like mad and so are proving quite a handful for their keepers giving them regular feeds day and night. They should be weaned in about two months time."
The adult pair have been at the zoo for two years.
The Black-rumped Agouti, Dasyprocta prymnolopha, is an agouti species from the Dasyproctidae family. It is an endemic species found only in the northeast portion of Brazil.
They are absolutely gorgeous. See for yourself below. Ahhhhhh
