In a landmark event for British wildlife conservation, two rare black and rufous elephant shrews have been born in the United Kingdom for the very first time. The minuscule newborns, each weighing a mere 30 grams at birth—equivalent to a standard AA battery—were so tiny that zookeepers at Hertfordshire Zoo initially missed their arrival.
Discovery Through CCTV Footage
The births were only confirmed when zoo staff reviewed overnight CCTV footage, revealing the unexpected additions. Also known as black and rufous sengi, the babies were born on February 23 to the resident breeding pair, Nuru and Mala. The pair emerged from their nest for the first time on a Thursday, several weeks after their birth, marking a significant milestone.
A Species with a Unique Identity
Native to Africa, this species was officially renamed as sengi in 1998. Despite its name, the insect-eating creature is neither an elephant nor a shrew, though it is more closely related to elephants. It is also a distant relative of aardvarks and manatees, despite being mouse-sized. The births are expected to aid in education and ongoing study of these unusual animals.
Viral Sensation and Breeding Success
In recent years, Hertfordshire Zoo's black and rufous sengis have garnered millions of views online, thanks to their twitching noses—often described as a 'mini trunk'—and extremely fast movements. Zoo officials highlight that this successful breeding is a major development, with only a handful of black and rufous sengis currently residing in the UK.
Tyler Whitnall, managing director at Hertfordshire Zoo, expressed his excitement: 'To have the first-ever black and rufous sengi birth in the UK right here at Hertfordshire Zoo is an incredible feeling. We knew when we welcomed the pair last October that we were part of something special, but to see them successfully breed so quickly is a testament to the world-class care provided by our team. These pups are growing incredibly fast and are already showing the same high-energy, inquisitive traits as their parents.'
Visitor Attraction and Care
Hertfordshire Zoo anticipates that the new arrivals will draw visitors eager to see the small mammals in person. The newborns are currently under close monitoring by the zoo's veterinary team and are reported to be thriving under parental care. While they still spend much of their time in the nesting area, the zoo expects them to become fully active and visible to visitors in the coming weeks.
Broader Context of Elephant Shrews
The black and rufous elephant shrew is one of approximately 20 elephant shrew species. In a notable parallel, the Somali elephant shrew—considered 'lost to science' since 1968—was rediscovered in 2020 in the rocky landscape of the Horn of Africa. Following local sightings in Djibouti, scientists used traps with peanut butter, oatmeal, and yeast extract to catch several specimens, confirming the species had not gone extinct.
Elephant shrews are known for their impressive speed, capable of reaching up to 17 miles per hour (28.8 km per hour). Their diet primarily consists of insects, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and earthworms. They use their nose to locate prey and their tongue to flick small food into their mouth, similar to an anteater. Some species also consume small amounts of plant matter, such as new leaves, seeds, and small fruits.
