Drusillas Park, in Alfriston, East Sussex, is celebrating the arrival of prairie dog and meerkat pups.
Four newborn prairie dogs and two newborn meerkats were born underground.
Zoo Animal Manager, Mark Kenward, said:
“We are absolutely delighted with the new arrivals. Our visitors really love to see the baby meerkats and prairie dogs playing and enjoying the sunshine. They are very active little ones and they playfight all the time. All good signs of healthy progress.”
Meerkats are very social creatures, living in complex underground burrows in highly organised groups. Only one pair of meerkats will breed within a mob, giving birth to two to five young at a time. However, all the members of the group will help to look after the youngsters and share the responsibility of raising the pups. The brothers and sisters of the new arrivals can be seen helping out with duties already.
Watch a video of Drusillas newborns
Mark added:
“We don’t know the sex of the babies and they have not yet been named, but we are hoping visitors will be able to help with some inventive name suggestions soon!”
“Both little families are all doing really well. Our youngest Colobus monkey baby Kylo is in the enclosure next to the meerkat pups and he’s really enjoying watching them play!”
Prairie dogs are native to prairies and open grasslands in North America. They live in underground burrows, with nurseries, sleeping quarters, and even toilets. They live in family groups and like to greet each other with a prairie dog kiss or nuzzle.
Teenager In Custody On Crawley Attempted Murder Charge
Appeal Following Assault In Hastings
Road Closed As Armed Police Attend Incident In Worthing
Lewes District Council Placed In Planning Special Measures
‘Life-Changing’ Medication For Asthma Patients Now Available In Sussex
Arms Factory Demonstrator Disrupts Brighton & Hove Council Meeting
Patients Forced Into 'Pharmacy Bingo' - As Survey Says Medicine Shortages 'Beyond Critical'
Appeal for information After Man Dies In Hastings Collision
Wealden To Hold National Dementia Action Week This Month
Brighton Food Festival To Be Charged For Mud Bath
Comments
Add a comment