THREE rare ducks are quackers about their new pool at The Palms Tropical Oasis at Stapeley Water Gardens.

The new guests settling in well at the Nantwich attraction are male South American ducks, whose arrival coincided with World Wetlands Day.

Curator Valda Fillery said: 'Visitors are always interested to hear about exciting conservation projects and The Palms is the most exciting of venues to learn about them.'

When ideas for the redevelopment of one of the pools were discussed, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge offered to help highlight its

successful conservation work, and to start things rolling donated the three ducks.

Valda added: 'We intend to add females in the future, so we will hopefully have some pretty adorable ducklings before too long.

'We're thrilled that this project has come together so well, and are really pleased to be able to help such a well respected conservation org anisation.'

The zoo team at The Palms have created natural environments to display everything from an impressive collection of spiders to skunks and to a rapidly growing Caiman crocodile.