Piglets and joeys born at animal park near Dorchester

A litter of piglets has been born at the Animal Park at Kingston Maurward College and baby wallabies are starting to poke their heads out of their mothers' pouches as well.

The Animal Park and Gardens on the school grounds may have been closed to the public due to coronavirus, but the inhabitants and people that look after them are carrying on with their daily lives.

Laura Chatton, Education and Welfare Coordinator at the Animal Park, said: "We have just had a small litter of piglets from one of our old sows, and are expecting another litter from a second sow in a week or so hopefully. They are currently all tucked up in their house but are just starting to venture out into the sunshine.

"Something that is particularly exciting for us is the appearance of our new little joeys from our Bennett's Wallabies, which have just started to poke their heads out of their mum's pouches. They are very small at the moment and aren't venturing out fully yet, but can be seen a little more now that we are having some nice weather. We already have seven wallabies, with two joeys from last year now nearly full grown.

"We have also just started working on our Wallaby Walkthrough with a mixed exhibit and we have moved our pygmy goats in with them, ready to have their kids in June. We also have guinea fowl - a sort of African Bush chicken - running around with them too. They are all getting on very well indeed and I've been getting lots of help from the pygmy goats whilst trying to clean out the enclosures."

The general public cannot currently see the new arrivals, as the school and animal park have both been closed to visitors due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A spokesperson for the college said: "In line with many businesses we have now taken the decision to close all facilities on the estate for visitors including shop, cafes and toilets with immediate effect. The Animal Park and Gardens will remain closed for the foreseeable future."