Newborns win over zookeepers and visitors

Whipsnade Zoo, part of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has welcomed the arrival of three red river hog newborns to its inventory of animals.

The triplets are now three weeks old and currently have cream and black stripes, which will eventually be replaced by a red coat.

Mum Rapunzel and dad Pedro are first-time parents, but both are doing well.

The trio are already beginning explore their new surroundings and have been winning over the zoo's visitors as they run around their paddock and snuffle in the mud.

As they grow older, the triplets will become excellent swimmers and runners, like their wild counterparts.

Zookeeper Cassie Taylor said: "Red river hogs are often described as the prettiest of all pigs and that's certainly true for our new arrivals – they're adorable!

"After spending the first couple of weeks tucked up inside their den with mum, they're slowly starting to grow in confidence and, although they're still sticking close to her, it's fantastic to see them venturing outside and investigating their paddock."

The triplets are part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for red river hogs.

They each weighed just 907 grams (two pounds) at birth, and belong to one of the smallest species of pigs, hailing from sub-Saharan Africa.

Image courtesy of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo