PICTURES: Awwww! Cute trio of baby Maras arrive at Doncaster's Yorkshire Wildlife Park

These cute baby animals have helped deliver an early Christmas present for Doncaster's Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
The baby Maras have arrived at YWP.The baby Maras have arrived at YWP.
The baby Maras have arrived at YWP.

The cute trio of Maras - larger relatives of guinea pigs - have been getting visitors to the Branton based visitor attraction cooing since their arrival.

The Maras, members of the cavy family which are increasingly threatened in their native homeland of Patagonia, are doing well and are getting used to surroundings at the South American Viva walkthrough at the park.

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They share this area with capybara which are the largest rodent in the world, agouti – which is a smaller rodent, and a mischievous troop of squirrel monkeys.

The new arrivals have been wowing visitors.The new arrivals have been wowing visitors.
The new arrivals have been wowing visitors.

The triplets, who will grow to about three feet long and a weight of up to 16 kilos, are late arrivals to this year’s baby boom at the park with new arrivals earlier in 2017 including Eland Antelopes, Wallabies, Bactrian Camels and Ring-Tailed Lemurs.

"You don’t really expect to see babies in November, but Mara will breed all year round.” says Debbie Porter, animal manager at the park.

“Now is such a special time to visit our animals and the birth of these babies has added an extra festive feel to the park. Children love seeing the new babies up close.”

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Mara, also known as the Patagonian Hare, are natives of South America and can walk, hop, gallop and bounce on all four legs - some have been clocked at 40 mph.

They take one mate for life and usually have 1-3 offspring a year.