Melbourne Zoo sees first meerkat pups born in two years

THEY’RE the first meerkats born at Melbourne Zoo in two years — and the adorable new additions are up for some hide-and-seek with visitors.

Too cute: The Meerkat pups at Melbourne Zoo. Picture: Alex Coppel.

FOUR meerkat pups have played peek-a-boo with delighted Victorian schoolkids at Melbourne Zoo.

Melbourne Zoo keepers spotted the three-week-olds, the first meerkats born at the zoo in two years, pop their heads out of their burrow last week before they plucked up the courage to go for a stroll.

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They’re just starting to pop out from their burrow. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Under the watchful gaze of mother Sam, father Jubjub and two other male sentries, the four furry critters cuddled up in front of Diamond Creek East Primary School students today.

“They’re quite inquisitive,” keeper Fiona Melvin said about the new arrivals, estimating each weighed less than 100 grams.

Some fun and games with the adult Meerkats at Melbourne Zoo. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Out of the burrow, into the world. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“It’s been about a week that they’ve been consistently spending more time outside, and it correlates with the warmer weather.”

The genders of the tiny foursome, who remain milk-dependent, will be determined as part of their first examination in coming weeks, with keepers reluctant to interrupt the bonding process.

Time for a hug at Melbourne Zoo. Picture: Alex Coppel.

One of the Meerkat pups. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“We’ve been very gentle to ensure we don’t impose any stress on the adults and the pups,” Ms Melvin said.

“They’re doing really well.”

The typically chilled-out meerkat gang is usually on the lookout for potential threats but when there’s food about, their defences drop.

“It’s a bit frantic,” the keeper said, handing out minced meat to the carnivorous cuties.

Grey meerkats are native to Angola, Namibia, South Africa and southern Botswana.