A rare breed of armadillo has taken its first steps into the wild at a zoo in Telford.
The newborn three-banded armadillo at Exotic Zoo was the first recorded birth of the species in a UK zoo in over ten years.
It’s found in the wild in Brazil. Zookeepers have been celebrating the newborn’s birth due to the armadillo struggling to breed in captivity.
Three-banded armadillos are best known for their ability to roll into a tight ball when threatened. Credit: Exotic Zoo
However, the zoo’s animal team had to step in due to its mother, Melon, deciding to reject her baby.
During the past six weeks, keepers have been feeding the young armadillo throughout the day and night.
Now the zoo says due to this programme, the baby armadillo is “thriving” and taking its first steps outdoors.
Three-banded armadillos are best known for their ability to roll into a tight ball when threatened, and are one of the few species armadillo able to do so completely.
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