AN ANIMAL keeper has been thrown head first into motherhood after two armadillo babies were abandoned by their parents and nearly left fighting for their lives.

Primate and small mammal keeper Stacey Axman is hand-rearing Cotswold Wildlife Park's first armadillo babies Amelia and Wallace by her boyfriend Alistair McLintock.

Miss Axman, 33, lives on site at the park in Bradwell Village and for the first two months of their lives the young armadillos lived in her flat.

She said: "I was there when the armadillos were born, so I stepped in. We don't normally hand rear animals, as mum is best, but our adult female doesn't seem to be a particularly good mother.

"I've been looking after them night and day since they were born in February. It was exhausting. I think it's put me off ever having children myself!"

Despite working 24/7 since the babies were born, and only having three nights off in three months, Miss Axman admits she is already in love.

She added: "I'm sure they do recognise me. They know my smell and the sound of my voice as they start looking all interested.

"I really do feel like a prouder mother. I've made them as soppy as anything, I've ruined them really."

Head keeper Mark Goodwin, 46, has also stepped up to the role of parent in looking after Patricia the camel was rejected by her mother Cleo.

Mr Goodwin, who also lives on site with wife Claire and four-month-old son Henry, said: "We are just trying to distance ourselves from her now. We want her to realise she is a camel, it's a dangerous situation to have a camel that thinks it's a human."

Pat was born at the same time as half-brother Frank, who was lovingly cared for by his own mother.

Mr Goodwin added: "If you look at Pat compared to Frank, he is bigger, healthier and has a shinier coat. It proves mum is best. We don't ever want to step in unless we have to as mum is best."

Pat the camel is available to see at the park with her family, but the armadillos need to grow stronger before they can be seen by the public.