AssetID: 55547373
Headline: Cute snoots! Baby joy as Hertfordshire Zoo celebrates Britain's first ever elephant shrew birth
Caption: The tiny elephant shrew has successfully reproduced in the U.K. for the first time, after the birth of healthy babies at Hertfordshire Zoo. Zoo staff announced the birth of two of the minuscule mammals, also as black and rufous sengis, on Thursday (12March2026). The two babies were born on 23 February 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. Tyler Whitnall, managing director at Hertfordshire Zoo, said: “To have the first-ever black and rufous sengi birth in the UK right here at Hertfordshire Zoo is an incredible feeling. We knew when we welcomed the pair last October that we were part of something special, but to see them successfully breed so quickly is a testament to the world-class care provided by our team. These pups are growing incredibly fast and are already showing the same high-energy, inquisitive traits as their parents.” In recent years the zoo’s black and rufous sengis have attracted millions of views online. Their twitching noses – sometimes described as a “mini trunk” – and extremely fast movements have helped make them a viral sensation. Hertfordshire Zoo says the new arrivals are expected to draw visitors keen to see the small mammals in person. 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. While they are still spending much of their time in the nesting area, the zoo expects them to be fully active and visible to visitors in the coming weeks.
Keywords: elephant shrew,animals,nature,features,photo,video
PersonInImage: