DUBLIN ZOO IS celebrating three new arrivals.

The zoo has sent TheJournal.ie some awwwww-inducing photos of its newest additions – a hippopotamus calf and two red panda cubs.

On Monday, Dublin Zoo’s hippopotamus Heidi gave birth to a fit and healthy female hippo calf. Weighing an impressive 30kg, it is the first hippo calf to be born at the zoo in about 10 years.

“We are thrilled with the arrival,” said team leader Helen Clare-Bennet. “Mum Heidi is taking to motherhood very well. Before she goes for her daily nap in the pool she lifts the baby out of the water and places the young calf onto the water bank. Then she props the baby onto her nose to make sure the youngster doesn’t fall into the pool while she is sleeping. It’s a joy to see Heidi taking good care of her young calf.”

The two red panda cubs – one male and one female – were born at the beginning of August but have only started to venture out of their den. Their mum, Angelina, had been hiding the cubs in various places to keep them protected.