Two tiny newborn birds are being hand-reared at Chester Zoo after they were rejected by their mum.
The zoo's curator of birds Andrew Owen has stepped into the role of parent, providing round the clock care and feeding the tiny Fischer’s turacos (Tauraco fischeri) every few hours.
The duo have also been heading home with Andrew who uses tweezers to carefully feed them small pieces of chopped fruit.
"It’s not unusual for a first-time mum to feel a little unsure as to what’s she’s to do with her new charges so I’m more than happy to step up and play parent," said Andrew.
"Encouraging them to eat does require some patience and a little encouragement but once they’ve got full tummies then they’re usually happy to nod off to sleep. As youngsters go, other than meal times, they’ve been pretty un-demanding and I’m relieved to say they’ve not been keeping me up at night.
"In no time at all though they’ll be ready to fledge and off to join the rest of the birds in the zoo."
The turacos are native to Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania where forest clearing and trapping prove a threat to long-term survival of the species.
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