Five baby meerkat pups join the mob.
The NEW Sydney Zoo is celebrating more babies with the arrival of five meerkat pups born just over 3 weeks ago to parents Sam and Kozi. The quintuplets are tiny enough to fit in the palm of their keeper’s hands.
The pint-sized newborns spent the first two weeks of their life nestled safely in a nesting burrow with their mum. Within the last week, the pups have begun to emerge from their burrow and are roaming around their new habitat meeting the rest of the mob, playing and darting between the adult’s legs.
The energetic pups will closely follow the 7 adults around and learn all about being a meerkat. From imitating natural behaviours like digging and sitting on their hind legs to eventually be on watch duty, the babies will be full members of the group in no time. After an exhausting day of playing and learning, they cuddle up together while their mother wraps herself around them.
For now, the pups are still feeding on their mother’s milk, but have been seen testing their tastebuds by chewing on mealworms and grubs. Despite living in desert-like conditions, unbelievably meerkats do not need extra water in their diets. They get all the moisture they need from the insects they eat.
“This is the second litter for mum Sam and also the biggest, as meerkats usually give birth to only two or three pups. We are very pleased that all five are healthy and displaying natural behaviours. Guests may even hear the pups calling to their parents to let them know they are ok”. Said carnivore keeper, Brock Taranto.
Young kids will love the playful nature of the cheeky pups. Don’t miss your chance to see the babies at the NEW Sydney Zoo before they grow up!
