Meerkat Pups Born in Washington DC Smithsonian Zoo, 16 Years After Last Birth Event

This month, the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, welcomed three meerkats into the world, which had not happened there in 16 years.

Newborn Meerkat Pups on the Smithsonian Zoo

On May 10, the zoo's Small Mammal House caretakers discovered Sadie, a 5-year-old meerkat, having given birth to the babies throughout the previous night.

Sadie had never given birth before, but the pups' 6-year-old father Frankie had done so before, according to the Los Angeles Zoo in California.

Meerkat pups spend roughly three weeks underground in their natural habitat. Even though the zoo's animal cage features a tubing system that enables meerkats to burrow, Sadie chose a different strategy.

The Smithsonian Zoo claims that Sadie startled the keepers on the day of her birth by bringing her pups directly into the main exhibit area.

In November 2022, Sadie visited the zoo together with her sister Stella, and Frankie.

Meerkat Behavior

The zoo personnel said that Sadie has been feeding her babies, who appear healthy and robust. The three puppies, whose sexes have not yet been established, are starting to open their eyes and investigate their surroundings, according to the zoo.

Their keepers describe Sadie, Stella, and Frankie as outgoing, active, and curious.

The mob's animal care personnel is dispersing to allow the puppies to form bonds and receive unhindered treatment. They are keeping a close eye on the family and have seen Sadie nursing her young, who seems to be strong and in good health. It can take some time before caretakers and vets can identify the sexes of the puppies because they are not handling them. The pups are beginning to open their eyes and explore their environment at 14 days old, according to Smithsonian's National Zoo.

According to the zoo, Frankie is easygoing and will accept food from caretakers' hands gently. Sadie and Stella are very brash and approach keepers with ease.

The Meerkat Mob is on display at the Small Mammal House for zoogoers. According to the zoo, groups of meerkats are typically between 10 and 15, but a meerkat mob is any living group of up to 30 animals, WTOP News reported.

Meerkats are found in grasslands, savannahs, and open, arid plains in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature states that meerkats have a stable population and are not in danger of becoming extinct or becoming endangered.

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Meerkats

In Africa, active carnivores called meerkats dwell in tunnels. They are remarkably social creatures that live in groups, called mobs, of up to 30 animals who work together to keep an eye on the mob and frighten off any potential predators or rival meerkats.

Meerkats, also known as suricates, are members of the mongoose family and have grizzled gray and brown fur with dark patches around their eyes that help shield their eyes from the sun's glare. Their tail also has a black tip. For digging, meerkats have strong foreclaws. Their sharp snout makes it easier for them to extract prey from small crevasses, Smithsonian's National Zoo reports.