A surprise baby boom is delighting keepers at Exotic Zoo, with new arrivals appearing across the attraction just in time for the summer holidays.

Visitors to the award-winning zoo in Telford Town Park can now spot everything from baby Patagonian maras and a tiny genet to a young wallaby and playful baby goats, alongside newly hatched critically endangered Black Beauty stick insects and Casque-headed iguanas.

The baby boom has inspired the theme of Exotic Zoo’s summer lineup, with the ‘Baby Animal Bonanza’ announced, so families can enjoy meeting the newest members of the zoo.

Among the biggest surprises were two daytime births of Patagonian mara. Mika was born just a few weeks ago and has recently started venturing out to explore, while twins Marlee and Monty arrived just weeks earlier.

Another recent arrival is Jenko, a baby genet. Although adults are often compared to cats because of their appearance, genets actually belong to the Viverridae family alongside civets. After spending its first few weeks tucked safely away, Jenko has now started exploring outside the nest box.

The zoo's newest wallaby has also begun peeking out from its mother's pouch before confidently hopping around its enclosure, while the popular baby goats have been keeping visitors entertained with their cheeky personalities and have been spotted climbing onto their keepers and Dodger the horse.

To celebrate the baby boom, Exotic Zoo has launched a packed programme of summer holiday activities. Visitors can enjoy extra keeper talks and feeding sessions, take part in a Goat Selfie Challenge, pick up an Animal Adventure Scratch Card for the chance to win prizes, or join the free Young Explorers Club to collect badges while learning more about wildlife and conservation.

Families can also book one of the zoo's new Mini VIP Meet and Greets, offering up to five people an exclusive 15-minute experience with one of the zoo's animals and an expert keeper. The experience includes a souvenir photo.

Inside the Natural History Museum, young artists can enter a new Paleoart Competition, with entries judged by some of the UK's leading paleo artists. The winning artwork will be displayed in the museum, with a grand prize for the winner.

The exciting summer lineup comes just weeks after Exotic Zoo was awarded ‘Excellence in Tourism’ at the 2026 Shropshire Chamber Business Awards.

Scott Adams, Managing Director of Exotic Zoo, said, “Our zoo keepers always look forward to baby season, but this year has been particularly exciting. We've welcomed so many new arrivals, including some wonderful surprise births that visitors have been lucky enough to witness. We have had another very important birth at the zoo, which will be announced soon!

“There's something incredibly special about seeing young animals discovering the world for the first time. We look forward to welcoming visitors across the summer holidays who can enjoy meeting the amazing animals we care for, as well as all our summer holiday activities.”

Exotic Zoo is open daily during the summer holidays, with activities taking place throughout the day.