FOR the first time in five years, visitors can now see bush dogs at Dudley Zoo.

Three-year-old sisters, Scarlet, Ruby and Rioja are now making themselves at home at the Castle Hill attraction after being transferred from Twycross Zoo.

Senior keeper, Sarah Evans, said: “We’re really pleased to have bush dogs again, especially a young pack.

“We’ve returned them to the enclosure where our last pack lived, so we hope they’ll show really well there as they seem very lively girls.

“They’ve only been here a few days, so are still settling in, but we’ve already identified Ruby as the dominant female, as she is more inquisitive and will take the lead over the others.

“Rioja is very noisy and Scarlet seems the quieter one, but we’re looking forward to getting to know their personalities.”

A near threatened species, bush dogs are native to Central and South America, but are losing their habitat for farming.

Thought to look more like a badger or otter than a member of the dog family, bush dogs are adapted to a semi-aquatic life with webbed feet, short legs and short, bushy tail.

They’re also nicknamed vinegar dogs because they produce a strong scent that resembles the acidic liquid.