Cotswold Wildlife Park celebrates breeding successes

The park, which is home to more than 1,500 animals from 250 different species, has seen more than 428 births across 53 species this year.

The mongoose pups, coming from first-time parents Chip and Nutmeg, mark the first time in 13 years that the species has bred at the park.

Natalie Horner, section head of primates, small mammals and birds, said: "We have had a wonderful year for births across the primate, small mammal and bird team so far.

The two yellow mongoose twins (Image: Cotswold Wildlife Park)

"Most notably our pair of yellow mongooses, Chip and Nutmeg, have produced their first litter of two pups."

This week, both pups have been sexed as female and have been named Cinnamon and Clove.

Visitors can see the youngsters, now 13 weeks old, in their exhibit in the walled garden.

For the first time in the park’s 54 year history, it has successfully bred beaded lizards.

Births of this prehistoric-looking reptile are incredibly rare in captivity. The hatchling is the only one born in any UK zoological collection in the last 12 months.

This species, along with the gila monster, are the only two out of approximately 3,000 species of lizards known to be poisonous.

The park has also seen first-time parents among its Humboldt penguin population.

Ms Horner said: “One of our Humboldt penguin pairs, Stephen and Marley, have also produced their first chick together.

"Now three months old, the as-yet-unsexed chick recently ventured out of the nest to explore the penguin enclosure with mum and dad."

The park has also seen the birth of eight straw-coloured fruit bats this year.

It is one of only three zoological collections in Europe to house this species and the only one to have bred them in the last 12 months.

The species is Africa’s second largest bat and get their name from their straw-coloured fur.

A male Bactrian Camel, sired by Louis, has also recently been born.

Named Kaleb after Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper, he is the first male calf that Louis and experienced mother Cleo have produced together.

The wild Bactrian Camel is classified as 'critically endangered' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Other breeding successes this year include a Potoroo baby, Green Aracari chicks, European Spoonbill chicks, Ring-tailed Lemur twins, Prairie Dog pups, and two tiny Kirk's Dik-dik calves.