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Zoo's bush dog puppies named by visitors

Dudley Zoo A bush dog puppy walks up to a wooden plank. The puppy has dark brown fur on its body, lighter brown fur on its head, and brown eyes. It looks like a very small bear. In the background, a tree trunk, yellow autumn leaves, and grass can be seen.Dudley Zoo
Dudley Zoo said its first litter of bush dog puppies, which are native to South America, had been a hit with visitors

A zoo has allowed visitors to choose names for four bush dog puppies, after welcoming its first litter of the animals earlier this year.

Dudley Zoo originally asked visitors to suggest a name for one puppy, but keepers were so impressed with the response that they extended this to the whole litter.

The four puppies have now been named Diego, Pablo, Bruno and Carlos.

Bush dogs are native to South America and conservation groups have raised concerns in recent years that they are threatened by habitat loss.

Dudley Zoo Five bush dogs walk in a line through a grassy area. There is a larger adult bush dog at the front of the group, followed by four puppies. The adult bush dog has light brown fur, while the puppies are a darker shade of brown. The grass is covered with yellow and brown autumn leaves.Dudley Zoo
The four puppies, Diego, Pablo, Bruno and Carlos, stayed in their dens for their first weeks before starting to venture out

The litter’s parents, Twenké and Dora, were paired up as part of an international breeding programme and the puppies were born in late August.

Dudley Zoo announced the puppies' arrival in October, when they started to venture out after remaining in their dens for their first weeks.

The zoo said the bush dog litter was the first in its 87-year history and the puppies had been very popular with visitors.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park also welcomed a litter of bush dog puppies over the summer and announced the news in October, hailing the births as a "conservation landmark".

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