Folly Farm, Begelly, has announced the pitter patter of tiny feet, with the arrival of three reindeer calves, a miniature foal and two baby wallabies. The recent additions are settling well into their new homes and are sure to delight visitors to Folly Farm. The reindeer calves, named Apollo, Rocky and Polo, were born to three different mothers last week, while the foal, a filly appropriately named Maya, arrived on May 1, and the baby wallabies revealed themselves for the first time this week. Lynsey Woods, Folly Farm's head zookeeper, said of the arrival of the reindeer: "Despite being cold climate animals, the baby reindeer are enjoying the recent sunny spell. Reindeer have extremely large, unusually shaped hooves that act as snow shoes, which on the babies look really funny - they're all legs and hooves." Maya, born to the Jolly Farm's miniature horses Cindy and Scooby, is finding her feet. Jane Hill, farm manager, enthused: "I suspected Cindy was going into labour during the night, so Folly Farm's night watchman kept an eye on her. Miniature horses labour very quickly, so by the time I'd got the call to say the foal was coming and driven into work, Cindy had delivered successfully and Maya was beginning to find her feet. "We generally have a newborn foal each year with the length of a pregnancy between 315 and 335 days (approximately 11 months). In fact, another of our miniatures, Sally, is expecting and due soon," she continued. The baby wallabies would have been born the size of a baked bean about six months ago, but they have been feeding in their mother's pouches all this time and only revealed themselves last week. Lynsey explained: "We've only had a couple of quick glimpses of the wallabies, but they are tremendously playful already. We've seen them dive head first into their mum's pouches with their legs and tails sticking up in the air!" AND THAT'S A FACT... Reindeer fact: The only deer where both the males and females have antlers. Folly Farm's reindeer calves will have grown two-inch stumps in time for Christmas. Miniature horse fact: These diminutive horses tend to reach a size of approximately 34 inches, that's two-feet 10 or in horse terms 8.2 hands. Currently, the world's smallest horse, Thumbelina, measures just 17 inches. Wallaby fact: A mother can be caring for three babies at different growth stages at any one time - one in the womb, one feeding in the pouch and one exploring the outside world. Folly Farm is open every day from 10 am until 5.30 pm until September 30. For more information on Folly Farm, its special events and the latest news, visit http://www.folly-farm.co.uk">www.folly-farm.co.uk
