COLCHESTER Zoo has announced the arrival of two adorable new aardvarks as part of a breeding programme.

Koos, 7, and Oni, 10, are now making themselves at home in Colchester Zoo, having arrived from Chester just over two weeks ago.

The pairing have been pictured in an aardvark burrow alongside OQ, who herself helped raise Otis, Estie, and Njaa Njaa before the three were transferred to other zoos around the continent.

Oq's partner, Afer, died in June and was Europe's oldest aardvark.

A post on the Colchester Zoo website explained how aardvarks are listed as ‘least concern’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.

Animal lovers reacted to the news on social media by expressing their delight.

Susan Clark wrote: “So pleased Oq has some company again – I came to do a zoo experience with the aardvarks the day after her partner died and it was sad to see her alone.

“I got to give her lots of cuddles!”

Abbie Rising commented: “My son was very lucky and was the first person to meet them on his Aardvark experience.

“They were lovely and even woke up to say hello!”