Visitors to Highland Wildlife Park have a new arrival to look out for after the birth of an adorable vicuna cria named Xoco.

The month old female was born on 18 June to parents Juanita and Austria and is already settling in well with the rest of the herd at the Kingussie based wildlife attraction.

Keepers at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland have given the youngster the Nahuatl name Xoco, meaning “little sister” or “the youngest child.”

Guests visiting the park can now spot the young vicuna exploring the drive through reserve, rarely venturing far from her mother as she discovers her surroundings.

Vicunas are the smallest members of the camel family and are native to the high Andes of South America, where they are renowned for producing one of the world’s finest natural fibres.

Like all vicuna crias, Xoco was quick to find her feet, with the species able to stand and walk within an hour of birth, an important survival instinct in the wild.

The arrival continues what has been a remarkable summer for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, with a string of new births across its two wildlife attractions.

At Highland Wildlife Park, visitors have also welcomed rare snow leopard cubs, Himalayan monals and red deer calves, while Edinburgh Zoo has celebrated the arrivals of Bru the capybara, Snoot the giant armadillo and Atty the sloth.

Xoco joins an established herd of six vicunas at the park, alongside Juanita, Ozzy, Austria, Kantu and Tupac.

The latest arrival adds another reason for visitors to explore the park’s drive through reserve, where many of the species roam across large natural enclosures designed to reflect their native habitats.

Highland Wildlife Park, operated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, was named Best Visitor Attraction at the Scottish Thistle Awards in 2025 and combines unforgettable visitor experiences with international wildlife conservation work.

For anyone planning a summer visit, Xoco is likely to be one of the smallest stars of the park, but she is already proving to be one of its biggest attractions.

Visitors can book park tickets online in advance and save at highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/tickets