We are delighted to announce the recent birth of two meerkat kittens. Affectionately known as ‘kits’ by our keepers they made their appearance known on the 24th March when they first made calls and squeaks whilst still underground in their den.

Meerkats are very sociable animals and live in large family groups. Originally from the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and South Africa, they love to sit out in the sun. An adult will famously stay on ‘look out’ often sitting tall on a high rock to watch over the family. At Marwell, the three adults share this responsibility and keep watch on a 4ft rock mound so that they can observe the surrounding area just as they would in the wild.

Young meerkats do not venture out of their den until a few weeks after their birth as Marwell’s meerkat keeper Sam Compton explains: “When the kits are young they stay in their burrow with a parent or babysitter. They are allowed onto the surface when they are old enough to dig, search for food with the adults, and most importantly able to make a quick dash back to the burrow in case a predator appears.”

“Born to mum Sharon and Dad Chico, the kits also live with another female, Pepper, who helps out with babysitting duties. The pair are doing well and visitors can now watch the kits as they play and groom each other. They are sun lovers so the lovely weather we have been having recently is perfect for them.”

If you are wild about meerkats, Chico is available to adopt through our Go Wild junior and general adoption schemes. The money from every adoption helps to care for and feed the animals at Marwell.  Available from just £25, the adoption pack contains lots of benefits including a free ticket for entry into Marwell to see Chico as well as the adopter’s name on a plaque for visitors to see. To adopt Chico click here or call the Adoption Office on 01962 777988

The first meerkats arrived in the early 1980’s. 36 meerkat youngsters have been born at Marwell and gone onto live at other collections or stayed at Marwell.

Chico was born at Marwell during August 2005 and Sharon was born during June 2003, she arrived at Marwell from Colchester Zoo in 2006.

Meerkats are highly sociable animals, living in large "mobs" or "gangs". In the wild these colonies live in open ground or scrubland and can number anywhere between five to 30 members.

Meerkats have powerful claws for digging and are capable of excavating burrows, although they prefer to take over tunnels abandoned by other animals. They will often share burrows with yellow mongooses, ground squirrels and other small rodents. Meerkats are active during the day and enjoy basking in the sun. They only use the tunnels for fleeing to safety, for sleeping and for giving birth.

The entire group of meerkats works as a team, sharing the work load of keeping guard and baby-sitting. When on sentry duty, the meerkat stands on its hind legs using the tip of the tail for support. Their keen eyes can pick out enemies such as birds of prey even when they are high in the sky. The guard gives an alarm call and the meerkats flee to safety.

Meerkats feed on insects, millipedes and spiders which they find mainly by smell. Mice, birds, lizards and snakes are also caught and killed by biting and shaking. When food is scarce a colony of meerkats may move to a new den, where there is more food.

Young are born blind and sparsely furred. The mother suckles her young in a sitting position and they will start to take solid food at six weeks. Males often leave the colony they were born in to form a new one.

All images kindly provided by Jackie Thomas / Marwell Photographic Group

16th May 2008

 

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