PREVIEW

Brookfield Zoo Chicago recently welcomed four meerkat pups born on February 11. Guests can now see the nearly 2-month-old meerkats, who have just begun venturing out in their habitat at the Zoo’s Desert’s Edge.

The two male and two female pups were born to Naomi, the 2½-year-old mother, and the sire, 3-year-old Tebogo, who both arrived at the Zoo in April 2023 on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. An SSP is a cooperative population management and conservation program for select species in accredited North American zoos and aquariums. Each plan manages the breeding of a species to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. This is the first successful meerkat litter at Brookfield Zoo Chicago since 2010.

The meerkat is a small mammal found in the western regions of southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. At birth, meerkat pups are sparsely furred and blind, opening their eyes at about 2 weeks old. They are usually weaned by 9 weeks old, although they may begin eating solid food before then. When full grown, meerkats are between 10 to 14 inches in length with a 7- to 10-inch tail. Individuals in the group take turns watching for predators while the other members search for food. While standing patrol, a meerkat will sit up straight on an elevated area and scans the surroundings as well as the sky.