Staff at Cotswold Wildlife Park were forced to step in when their first armadillo babies Amelia and Wallace were rejected by their mother Linda.
Primate and small mammal keeper Stacey Axman, 33, looked after the twins in her flat on the grounds of the park for their first two months.
She’s still hand-rearing the armoured animals and has only had three nights off since they were born in February.
Dedicated Stacey 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!
“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.”
Meanwhile, fellow zoo keeper Mark Goodwin, 46, has also stepped up to the role of parent looking after Patricia the camel, after it was rejected by mother Cleo.
Head Keeper Mark, who also lives on site, stepped in after the critically endangered Bactrian Camel was born on March 24.
He is still being bottle-fed, but is spending time with dad Chewy, and half-brother Frank, born five days earlier.
Mark 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.
“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.”
Patricia can been seen at the park, but the armadillos need to grow stronger before they can be seen by the public.
