Kelling Heath Holiday Park has welcomed a uncommon autumn litter of the fluffy-tailed, nut-chomping rodents.
David Martin, countryside supervisor on the north Norfolk web site, mentioned: “Welcoming a litter as late as autumn is an extremely uncommon factor and took the workforce abruptly.
“We’re overjoyed at such wonderful news and we’re happy to see the little ones out and about in their enclosure already.”
Kelling Heath has now had three litters this yr, totalling 9 kittens.
The new arrivals will spend at the very least six months on the park studying every little thing they should survive within the wild earlier than becoming a member of different conservation and rewilding programmes.
The kittens will discover ways to climb bushes, bounce, and forage for pinecones whereas independently exploring their protected enclosure.
One of the purple squirrel kittens at Kelling Health Holiday Park (Image: Supplied)READ MORE: Outrage as ANOTHER Norfolk council hints it could introduce four-day week
Kelling Heath was one of many final locations in Norfolk that purple squirrels referred to as home earlier than they disappeared from the area greater than 40 years in the past because of the introduction of the non-native American gray squirrel.
Mr Martin mentioned: “Now, the purple squirrel inhabitants is slowly growing due to each regional and nationwide conservation efforts.
“We’re very proud to help the biodiversity of the area and the legacy of the purple squirrel by means of our ongoing conservation efforts.
“We’re thrilled to see the numbers of red squirrels increasing across the nation and are proud of the part Kelling Heath’s efforts play in that for this magnificent native species.”
One of the purple squirrel kittens (Image: Supplied)
Fast info:
Where can I see purple squirrels within the UK?
As properly as at Kelling Heath and Pensthorpe in Norfolk, purple squirrels can solely be discovered on the Isle of Wight, within the north-west of England and Scotland, on Anglesea in Wales in elements of Northern Ireland.
What do purple squirrels eat?
Mostly seeds and nuts, with pine seeds a selected favorite.
How do purple squirrels mate?
Males first must observe females in extended chases by means of the bushes. Kittens are born in nests generally known as dreys.
