New furry friends have joined the ranks at Pets’ Corner in Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen – two young alpacas called Archie and Buster.
Archie, the white one, is eight months old and Buster is six months old, and both are settling in well to their new surroundings.
The new males, who were donated by Mr Gerrard from Netherly, are about 1m high at the moment and are three-quarters of their full height.
Archie and Buster, who feed on grass, hay and a dry mix with sugar beet, are in their own enclosure just now and will join the existing two alpacas once they have fully settled in.
Staff at Aberdeen City Council-run Pets’ Corner have noticed they are both very inquisitive and getting used to their new surroundings.
Aberdeen City Council operational delivery convener councillor John Wheeler said: “The new alpacas are very cuddly looking and I’m sure they will be a popular addition to Pets’ Corner, especially with the October school holidays coming up.
“We look forward to welcoming lots of people – young and old – to Pets’ Corner in the coming months to see Archie and Buster.”
It is hoped that Archie and Buster are as popular as other new additions, the meerkats Dee and Don, who arrived after the facility had a a £750,000 renovation and expansion including a larger area for the fish and reptiles, and the creation of a new education room.
As part of the renovations, a custom-built indoor and sleeping area, and large outside play area, was especially built for the meerkats.
The work at Pets Corner last year included replacement of the roof over both parts of the buildings, internal alterations and refurbishment, the installation of new fish and reptile tanks, new external access ramp and paths, and an upgrade to the staff facilities. Friends of Hazlehead Park also supported the work.
Other animal attractions at Pets’ Corner include meerkats Dee and Don, a kune kune pig, geese, turkey, chickens, sheep, goats, Shetland pony, miniature donkeys, fish, reptiles, budgies, ducks, guinea fowl, canaries, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, Lou Lou and Gethin the pygmy goats, and Vadar the albino Burmese python.
The opening hours for Pets’ Corner in September are from 10am to 5.30pm, and October are from 10am to 4.15pm.
The admission charges are:-
- Adult 16+: £3
- Child 3-16 years: £1
- Children under 3 years: Free
- Family Pass – 2 Adults 3 Children or 1 Adult 4 Children: £6
- Access to Leisure & Concession: £2
- Educational Group: Adult £1.50, Child 3-16 years 50p
- Yearly Family Pass: £30