Penguins and baby rhinos enjoy first snow

By Filipa Gaspar

Cute pictures show rhino calves and hand-reared penguins enjoying snow for the first time.

The animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park can be seen experiencing a flurry.

South African white Rhino calves, Markus and Mo, can be seen enjoying snow as well as Humboldt Penguin youngster Pippin native to Chile and Peru.

Some species love this time of year, such as Reindeer, Pallas' Cats, Wolverines and Red Pandas who all enjoyed being out and about while the snow fell.

Red Pandas are perfectly adapted to living in colder climates as they have hair on the soles of their feet, helping them to navigate wet and treacherous slippery branches, icy rocks and snow-covered ground in their natural habitat.

Chris Kibbey, Assistant Animal Manager at Cotswold Wildlife Park, said: "With the drop in temperature and flurry of snow we’ve seen, some animals have experienced these conditions for the first time.

"Whilst Red Pandas Millish and Wing, native to the Himalayas are right at home in the cold and snow, South African White Rhino calves Mo and Markus acted like excited toddlers when their paddock had turned white.

"They were given the opportunity to have a run around in it, before retreating into their warm house. Even Humboldt Penguin youngster Pippin (native to Chile and Peru) seemed intrigued as the snowflakes fell".

The park said that keepers are busy looking after the animals in this weather.

Where needed, any animals that prefer the warmth are provided with heated enclosures and will usually choose to stay indoors when we the weather gets cold and snow.