New arrivals at the zoo at Sewerby Hall and Gardens :
Eight raccoon dog puppies
Zoo keepers at Sewerby Hall and Gardens are celebrating the recent birth of eight raccoon dog puppies.
The new arrivals, which are now six weeks old, have been parented by a female raccoon dog called Oona, which arrived at the zoo last summer, and Bandit, the male adult raccoon dog.
Raccoon dogs are usually found in East Asia, in forests and woodland, and live on a diet of fish, rodents, seeds, nuts, fruit and berries. Despite their similarities to raccoons, they are not genetically related to them, and are in fact more closely related to dogs.
John Pickering, head zoo keeper at Sewerby Hall and Gardens , said : “These births are great news for the zoo here, and I am delighted to report that all are healthy and progressing well, as are the parents.”
The raccoon dog puppies are now on view to the public in the zoo in their enclosure.
