AssetID: 55550858
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Cute snoots! Baby joy as Hertfordshire Zoo celebrates Britain's first ever elephant shrew births
Caption: Cute snoots! Baby joy as Hertfordshire Zoo celebrates Britain's first ever elephant shrew births. The tiny elephant shrew has successfully reproduced in the U.K. for the first time, after the birth of healthy babies at Hertfordshire Zoo. The two babies were born on 23 February 2026 to resident breeding pair Nuru and Mala. The youngsters emerged from their nest for the first time on Thursday, weeks after their birth, which had initially gone unnoticed by keepers. At birth the animals weighed about 30g – roughly the same as a standard AA battery – and were so small they initially weren’t spotted. Their arrival was only discovered when staff reviewed overnight CCTV footage. Zoo officials say the successful breeding is a significant development, with only a handful of black and rufous sengis currently living in the UK. The species is native to Africa and the births are expected to help with education and ongoing study of the unusual animals. The newborns are currently being closely monitored by the zoo’s veterinary team and are said to be thriving under the care of their parents.
Keywords: Natural World,baby joy,Hertfordshire Zoo,elephant shrew,birth,reproduction,babies,resident,breeding,nest,small,arrival,CCTV footage,development,black rufous sengis,animals,veterinary,care,parents,habitat
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