Bush dog puppies emerge from their den to play

A litter of five bush dog puppies have emerged from their den at their zoo home after being born a month ago.

The pups, the only litter born in the UK this year, played with their parents and older siblings at Chester Zoo.

They were born to four-year-old Molly after a 65-day pregnancy. The pups are part of a European conservation breeding programme.

Richard Tyson, carnivore keeper at the zoo, said: "At this stage, they're just little furry potatoes. They toddle around a bit, but mostly they huddle together in a pile."

He added: "It won't be long before they're eating solid food, and we'll start providing them with little bits of chicken or rabbit to try over the next few weeks."

The pups each weighed roughly the weight of a can of sardines when they were born.

Keepers had initially left Molly and her new family undisturbed in one of three dens.

They said one of the first clues the birth had been a success was the sound of the youngsters.

Bush dog pups make high-pitched chirping noises that sound like birds.

Tyson said: "The older brothers and sisters like to move the little pups around, but they have quite short legs, so they can't lift them fully off the ground.

"They get bumped around a bit and then you hear a lot of squeaking.

"That's when Molly comes over and tells them off."

Bush dogs are found across parts of Latin America.

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