AN 18 month old female European Elk is the newest resident at the Wildlife Park in Ballaugh.

And park visitors are being invited to name the animal which can be seen in the European area of the park.

The elk has come from the Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland and is 1.8 metres tall.

Juan Turner MLC is the member of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure with delegated political responsibility for the Wildlife Park.

He said: "New arrivals at the park are always welcome and this female elk, or moose to our American cousins, is an impressive sight.

"I am hopeful we'll get some great suggestions for an appropriate name for her during the Christmas holidays.

"The Wildlife Park is one of the Island's most popular visitor attractions and as the new political member I am keen to make sure that the park provides a great visitor experience.

"I am looking forward to working with the team to revamp many of the park's areas and attractions."

Duty manager Tina Jauncey said: "We are very pleased to welcome the elk. Her arrival was much delayed because of the extensive bad weather we have experienced over recent weeks.

"We know that she is not the first elk in Ballaugh because the remains of an Irish elk, sometimes called a giant deer, were dug up in the early 19th century, only a mile from the Wildlife Park.

"However this species was only distantly related to European elk and died out over 8,000 years ago.

"She is settling in well and will hopefully be joined in the summer by a male from Whipsnade Zoo."

Entry to the Name the Elk competition is free and is limited to one entry per person per visit to the park.

It starts tomorrow (Saturday, December 10) and runs until Tuesday, January 3.