Born in a stable and asleep in the hay, three new arrivals are early Christmas gifts for a zoo  Staffordshire.Three baby capybaras were born earlier this month at Drayton Manor Zoo near Tamworth.

The capybaras, which are the world’s largest species of rodent, have settled down well with their mum, Ivy and their dad, Chester. Zoo manager, Joyce Roberts said: “It’s incredibly exciting to have new arrivals at this time of year.

The baby capybaras are settling in well with mum and dad and seem keen to explore their new surroundings.“Capybaras are the world’s largest species of rodent and despite being natives of South America are related to the guinea pigs and hamsters we have here as household pets in Britain.

“They are however considerably bigger, growing to a length of around one metre. “They also spend a lot of their time in the water and have slightly webbed feet to aid swimming as well as having their eyes and ears positioned high on their heads to avoid them getting wet.”

 Drayton Manor Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals from big cats and meerkats to monkeys and other primates - all for visitors to see.It is open all year round except specific dates during Christmas and New Year. The whole Drayton Manor Theme Park will re-open for the 2009 season on March 21.