TWO new furry additions have been welcomed to Jersey Zoo.
Agnes and Vonathan, two Madagascan mongooses – or ring-tailed vontsira – are strikingly recognisable for their reddish-brown fur and ringed tails.
They are currently the only pair of ring-tailed vontsira to reside in a zoo in the British Isles and it is hoped they will go on to breed.
Over the past few months, Agnes and Vonathan have been slowly introduced into their new surroundings having been living behind the scenes at the zoo.
The pair of mongooses can now be found at Kirindy Forest, next to the greater bamboo lemurs.
Agnes is a 12-year-old female that was previously at Zie Zoo in the Netherlands, and four-year-old male, Vonathan, arrived from Cerza Zoo in France.
The vontsira, with their sharp claws, strong jaws, and good sense of smell, are known for being great hunters. Their prey includes small mammals, lizards, frogs, and eggs.
Speaking about this new arrival, Sam Poole, senior keeper at Jersey Zoo, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome such a rare and charismatic species to Jersey Zoo.
“Having these beautiful Malagasy carnivores is a great way to honour Durrell’s longstanding history of working in Madagascar, where our team work tirelessly to protect some of the country’s most endangered wildlife.”
