Prickly pair hog the limelight at Dudley Zoo show
Two new bristly characters have been stealing the show at Dudley Zoo.
They are the lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrecs Eccles and Tellie.
Although these little creatures may look like hedgehogs they are in fact not related to the spiny creatures found at the bottom of the garden.
The pair star in the zoo's Go Wild! shows, meeting Little Zoo Keepers and appearing in school workshops after staff get them ready to greet young visitors.
Customer services team member Robert Dickie has been doing handling training with the pair which, although they look like hedgehogs, are entirely unrelated to the spiny animals. Despite its appearance, the lesser hedgehog tenrec is really the cousin of aardvarks, sea cows and elephants, and not closely related to hedgehogs at all.
Presenter Dorrie Hall said: "Eccles and Tellie are enjoying meeting our Little Zoo Keepers and school children, and the visitors love finding out more about these fascinating creatures."
Eccles and Tellie, arrived at the zoo last year and got their names from the formal title for their species which is Echinops telfairi.
Dorrie added: "They are nocturnal creatures, but are very active when awake and don't keep still for very long.
"They are also great climbers, aided by their sharp claws. They are only size of a thumb nail when they are born."
