Keepers at Chester Zoo were taken by surprise when an unexpected arrival made a sudden appearance.

A tiny Radiated Tortoise was spotted side by side with the Galapagos Tortoises, an entirely different species.

There keepers had recently moved all the smaller tortoises to a different enclosure, but had missed one egg which was buried underground. 

Richard Gibson, Curator of Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates at Chester Zoo said:

“The baby tortoise had dug its way out of the new sand and soil to reach the surface. It is now being cared for off show until we create space for him with the rest of the group. The baby is a surprise – but a very welcome one.”