Dartmoor Zoo in Devon is celebrating the arrival of new meerkat pups, a milestone made possible with help from local schools.
The slender-tailed meerkats, Ben and Geri, traveled from Knockhatch Adventure Park and Woburn Safari Park, arriving at Dartmoor Zoo in February. Their successful bonding and the birth of pups highlight the zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts and community support.
School Support Brings Meerkat Manor to Life
The birth of the pups was funded by Promoting Children in Plymouth (PCIP), which supports the zoo’s Meerkat Manor project. Pupils from Sir John Hunt School even helped build the Meerkat Manor, making the new arrivals a true community achievement.
Zoo CEO David Gibson said:
“The successful birth of the two new meerkats is the start of us building a new meerkat mob here.”
Caring Parents and Tiny Pups
Zoo keeper Hannah Ivory described Ben and Geri as devoted first-time parents. Their pups, about the size of a palm, are almost four weeks old and prefer appearing during quieter afternoon periods.
“Their wild instincts have taken hold, and they are very much devoted to each other, working cooperatively as a team to raise the pups,” Ivory explained.
Visitors are asked to keep noise levels down so the pups can continue to grow, explore, and thrive.
Slender-Tailed Meerkats in the Wild
The slender-tailed meerkat is currently classified as “least concern” on the IUCN Red List. These small mammals are native to savannahs, grasslands, and desert areas of southern Africa, where they live in social groups known as mobs.