STAFF at West Midland Safari Park are welcoming the arrival of an adorable litter of endangered African painted dogs.

Carnivore keepers at the Bewdley-based park were surprised to see 14 little noses appear from the painted dog den on the evening of August 12.

It comes as good news for conservation efforts, as habitat loss, snares and the introduction of diseases from domestic animals have put the species at risk, with an estimated population down to just 5,500.

Head keeper of carnivores, Lawrence Bates, said: "This is fantastic news.

"The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as ‘endangered,’ and last year, with help from our guests, we raised over £2,100 for the Painted Dog Conservation Trust.

"To raise this much money and now have 14 pups to add to our current eight is tremendous.”

Evidence that there may be some new arrivals came on July 16 when mum, Monique, disappeared into the den and didn’t reappear for a couple of days.

Keepers suspected that Monique was about to give birth and confirmation came when dad Viper, started to guard the den, chasing off his family and growling at the keepers’ jeeps.

The five-week-old tiny youngsters have started to emerge occasionally from the den, ready to play with their older siblings and meet the public.

West Midland Safari Park is now home to a pack of 22 painted dogs, the first of which arrived in 2002. Dad, Viper was born in 2005, in the first litter of pups the park had.

This is the third litter of pups to be born at the park since, proving the success for the endangered species breeding programme.

A baby southern white rhino, Persian fallow deer fawns and Eld’s deer fawns have also born at the park this year.

Park visitors have more chance to glimpse the painted dogs over the park's current Summer Nights event - when the park is open from 9am to 9pm daily until September 4.

Entry costs £22 for adults, £17 for children and £20 for concessions.

For more details visit wmsp.co.uk.