ZooBorns

Baby Meerkats at the Belfast Zoo

Meerkats are actually a type of mongoose but, unlike their loner brethren, they are highly social. Here the Belfast Zoo's newest playful meerkat pups emerge from the den and explore their surroundings, as their relatives keep a characteristic meerkat lookout. 

Baby Meerkats at Newquay Zoo

These four baby meerkats made their public debut at the Newquay Zoo last week. Here you can see the little boys exploring their new surroundings.

When Meerkats Attack...

It's pretty darned cute...

Baby Meerkats were presented yesterday to the press at the London Zoo. The youngsters, Lia and Roo, were abandoned by their mother and are now cared for by keeper Suzi Hyde, who look after the duo day and night. Photos by Jenny Duval.

Many more Meerkats after the jump...

In the Manner of a Meerkat: Zoo Basel Style

Zoo Basel's newest meerkats are social animals and typically stay close to their burrows where the entire clan looks after them. When in danger, they dart back in their hole, or if they are too far away, their mother will lay on top of them.

Can't Go Wrong with Baby Meerkats

We've brought you meerkats pups before but these little guys, born one month ago at Australia's Taronga Zoo, take the cake for heart-crushing adorability. "Zanzibar" and "Nairobi" each weigh a little over 3.5 ounces and are being raised on a diet of mealworms. 

Perth Meerkat Pups: "Meer"ly Practicing for Primetime

The Perth Zoo has three new arrivals and they recently went on display. Meerkats have a unique form of communication, at the center of which is the sentinel guard.  At least one individual stands guard while the group is away from the den.  In the event of an approaching threat, the guard lets out a high pitched squeal, alerting his or her pals to the danger.

Here, two of the babies practice their best sentinel stances in preparation for guard duty.

Huddled together, the pups (whom I have decided to name Wynken', Blynken', and Nod; from Left to Right) make a formidable team. This meerkat moment was brought to you by photographer 'Galah.

"Wild" Animal Encounters

Spotted:  Interspecies conoodling at the San Francisco Zoo...

Photographer Susan Pettitt caught these kangaroos coming nose to nose with a wild squirrel just the other day at the San Francisco Zoo...

Meanwhile, at the Artis Zoo, A.J. Haverkamp comes through again with some heart warming photos of Dayo the gorilla baby coming face to face with a meerkat and her own baby...

Momma meerkat valiantly protects her babe, but we suspect Dayo is "meer"ly curious...