PREVIEW

Brookfield Zoo in Chicago recently welcomed four meerkat pups born in February. The nearly 2-month-old meerkats 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. 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 fully grown, meerkats are between 10 to 14 inches in length with a 7- to 10-inch tail. While standing patrol, a meerkat will sit up straight on an elevated area and scan their surroundings as well as the sky.