Newborn Meerkats At Tucson Zoo A Nice Coronavirus Distraction

TUCSON, AZ—If you find your social media newsfeed overflowing with continuous coronavirus coverage, the birth of five new meerkat pups at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson may serve as a much-needed distraction—even if for just a few minutes.

According to the zoo, members of the animal care team noticed three adult meerkats oddly huddled protectively over a pile of tiny moving legs on April 9. After taking a closer look, to their surprise, several newborn pups had been born overnight. They are the first-ever of the species born at the 24-acre zoological gardens.

“All three adults, who are also first-time parents, are doing an excellent job of parenting,” Animal Care Supervisor Adam Ramsey said. “Both females are nursing, grooming and cuddling the babies to keep them warm.”

Meerkats first arrived at Reid Park Zoo in 2017 as part of a breeding recommendation in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, zoo officials said.

A member of the mongoose family, meerkats are catlike carnivores found in the desert and grasslands of Africa. They live in groups known as mobs with a dynamic social structure where group members rotate responsibilities, including taking turns standing “sentry” on their hind legs to watch for predators. They are also masters at digging tunnels, which they use for protection. The species was popularized by the character Timon in the movie “The Lion King” and in the television show “Meerkat Manor.”

“We are proud of our new little family and can’t wait for the pups to make their public debut,” Nancy Kluge, president and CEO of Reid Park Zoo, said. The meerkat birth is the second major birth for the Zoo in April 2020. On April 6, the zoo welcomed a 295-pound female African elephant calf.

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