Six wolf pups have been born in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

The litter, now seven weeks old, are only just beginning to venture from their den and explore their home in Wolf Wood.

They are the first wolf pups bred in the Cairngorms since 2013. Their mother, Ruby, was also born there in 2012.

Douglas Richardson, head of living collections at the Highland Wildlife Park, said: "This is the first time Ruby has had pups and she is proving to be an excellent mother.

"The pups are doing very well and are slowly starting to wander from the den, although they are still quite shy and always remain close to their mother's side."

"The wolf has been an iconic species at the Highland Wildlife Park since its opening in 1972 and it is wonderful to see a new pack developing.

"As they would disperse from their natal pack in the wild, these pups will eventually go out to other collections to augment existing packs or help create new ones."

Wolves once roamed Scotland's wilderness but were hunted to extinction in the 1740s. The wolves at the Highland Wildlife Park are natively found in Scandinavia.