Zoo welcomes big baby rodent trio

Capybaras are the world's largest rodent and are expert swimmers

A zoo in Cornwall is celebrating the arrival of some new additions to its menagerie - three baby capybaras.

The creatures, which originate from South America and are the world's largest rodent, were born at Newquay Zoo where their mother was also born.

Homer, Harley and Hokey are members of the guinea pig family and will grow to 2ft (60cm) tall and weigh 100lb (45kg).

Head keeper Sam Harley said: "Capybara live in family groups so our plan is to keep them all together at Newquay Zoo."

Capybaras' scientific name means water pig, and their bodies have been specially adapted for swimming - with webbed feet and their eyes, ears and nostrils located on top of their heads.

Although in the wild they are preyed upon by jaguars, anacondas and caiman, humans also hunt them for their meat and skin, which can be turned into leather.

The capybara trio are the latest babies to join the zoo - in June a black wildebeest was born on site and earlier in the year the zoo saw its meerkat family produce seven babies.