The three piglets have grown attached to the toy sheep (Picture: PA)

Three wild boar piglets have grown attached to a cuddly toy at Whipsnade Zoo after they were taken from their inattentive mother and cared for by keepers.

Four-week-old sisters Dotty, Hettie and Gertie, had to be hand-reared by staff at the Bedfordshire zoo because their mother had an extra-large litter and was unable to give them adequate care.

But now the youngsters have found solace in a toy sheep, which keeps them entertained when keeper Jo Shirley is not around.

The animals are being hand reared by Whipsnade Zoo keeper Jo Shirley (Picture: PA)

‘We’ve built them a special enclosure from straw bales, complete with heat lamps, blankets, and a toy sheep which is left for them to snuggle up to whenever I’m not around,’ Ms Shirley said.




‘Usually the piglets would cuddle up to their mum, so the sheep is very comforting for them – although they’re so cute, one of us is always popping in to say hello to them.’

The siblings will be cared for until they have enough strength to live on the zoo’s Children’s Farm.

Once there, the wild boars will have to contend with wallabies, llamas, silkie chickens, goats and donkeys.