Name chosen for baby Alpaca at Hazlehead Park

The baby alpaca born recently in Pets' Corner in Aberdeen's Hazlehead's park has been named.

The cute woolly baby alpaca has been born at Pets’ Corner in Aberdeen has been named by primary school aged children visiting the Hazlehead Park facility.

The name Pedro was overwhelmingly chosen by the young animal fans, beating Hugo and Milo and is in tribute to the origin of alapacas, from the mountains in South America.

Baby alpacas are called crias and Pedro was born to his mum Betty in September.

Betty has been a resident at Pets’ Corner for almost two years and is very popular, especially at feeding time. Betty and the other alpaca Archie eat mainly hay and grass.

Alpacas make a variety of sounds including humming - when alpacas are born, the mother and baby hum constantly. They also make snorting, grumbling, clucking, screaming, and screeching noises – Pedro and Betty have been heard humming together several times.

In Pets’ Corner, the outdoor areas and the meerkat section are open so people can view the alpacas along with the new addition, however the adjoining aquarium/reptile building is closed as it is too small to let people physically distance.

People should be aware there are limited numbers allowed in Pets’ Corner to ensure physical distancing is maintained, and there is also the Track and Trace system in place.

Other animal attractions at Pets’ Corner include meerkats Dee and Den, Mason the donkey, two cross-bred pigs, turkey, chickens, sheep, goats, Hector the Shetland pony, miniature donkeys, budgies, ducks, guinea fowl, canaries, ferrets, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

Aberdeen City Council operational delivery convener Councillor John Wheeler said: “The baby alpaca has been very popular since he was born at Pets’ Corner and it’s great school children have given him a suitable name from the region where alpacas are from.

“Pedro is extremely cute and no double will continue to be a star attraction with visitors watching as he grows up.”