Melbourne Zoo's Feisty Five make their debut
Melbourne Zoo’s Meerkat mob continues to expand with the birth of five more fresh-faced pups, who are being encouraged by their three-month-old siblings to venture outside their den.
The new additions, who will be named in the coming months, were born on Wednesday 3 January and have spent the past few weeks snuggled up with their mother Toto, father Malu, and siblings Suri and Mosi.
Melbourne Zoo Carnivores and Ungulates Life Sciences Manager, Laura Weiner [pronounced wine – er], said the team is thrilled to welcome a second healthy meerkat litter.
“It’s terrific to watch Toto and Malu build a large mob with this second litter,” Ms Weiner said. “In the wild, a meerkat may have several litters in a year if their territory is safe, spacious and they have abundant food and resources.
“So, these recent births are a great outcome for this meerkat mob and for Melbourne Zoo visitors.”
Meerkats live in social groups called mobs, which can range between two to 30 individuals. This structure allows the small, furry mammals to demonstrate a wide variety of natural behaviours, and increases rest, play and burrowing time between sentry duties.
Meerkats also have multiple distinctive vocalisations and a larger group will offer more opportunity for complex vocalisations.
“In large mobs, the older siblings help to raise and socialise the young, which takes a lot of pressure off of mum and dad.
“Suri and Mosi are very attentive to their new playmates and have been seen grooming the pups in their dens at.”
Melbourne Zoo is now home to 22 Meerkats, including those housed at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The mob currently lives in the ‘Growing Wild’ area near Melbourne Zoo’s front entrance.
Entry to Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park is free for children under 16 years during Victorian school holidays, public holidays and weekends.