For the first time in over three years, Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire has welcomed a pair of red squirrel kits, captured in heartwarming footage as they explore their woodland home. Born just after Easter to first-time parents Pinecone and Rory, each kit weighed around 10 grams at birth and has now reached about one month old.
Red squirrels are a native species of the UK, but their numbers have significantly declined due to habitat loss and competition from invasive grey squirrels. Longleat’s dedicated breeding program is part of a national initiative committed to restoring red squirrel populations and reintroducing them to their original woodland environments.
The twins, whose names are yet to be decided, will remain safely in their drey—a woven nest carefully built high in the trees—until they are fully weaned at approximately ten weeks old. After weaning, their diet will transition from maternal milk to a diverse selection of natural foods, including hornbeam seeds, pinecones, hazelnuts, ash seeds, tender shoots, and other plant materials found in their habitat.
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Longleat’s red squirrel conservation efforts play a crucial role in the broader UK strategy, which involves restoring woodland habitats, educating the public, and maintaining a managed breeding program to ensure genetic diversity. The arrival of these kits marks an important milestone in securing the long-term future of red squirrels beyond the boundaries of the safari park.