Colchester welcomes first bush dog litter!

Colchester Zoo are very excited to announce their first litter of bush dog pups! The litter was born on 23 March to first time parents Nina and Nico. Both mum and dad are doing extremely well in looking after the new arrivals and are being very attentive with the 3 youngsters who are feeding well. Both parents arrived at Colchester Zoo in July 2017, so the zoo are delighted that they are both happy and feel settled enough to have bred.

The pups will continue to stick close to mum and dad but have already begun to spend brief spells outside exploring their new home and have begun to try some solid food. 

The bush dog is a rare and unusual canid, with short legs, a short bushy tail, a rounded muzzle and ears, and webbed feet!

The birth of the pups is extremely important to Colchester Zoo and their breeding program as this species is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Stop by the bridge at the Lost Madagascar Train Station and see if you can catch a glimpse of the new arrivals!