WATCH: Fota Wildlife Park welcomes adorable baby meerkats - and they need names!

Two new meerkat pups are the latest additions to Fota Wildlife Park in Cork and the public are being invited to name them.

Their mother, Biggy, gave birth on June 22 having successfully produced a previous litter of three pups last September. She arrived from DierenPark Zoo in the Netherlands along with her sister Missy in May 2023.

Her previous litter with resident male meerkat, Snaggle - who is also the father of the two latest additions - were named Bing, Biggles, and Bundi.

“Biggy had been closely monitored by the animal care team for possible pregnancy after a noticeable weight gain in May,” explained Lead Ranger, Teresa Power. “On the morning of June 22, when Biggy and Snaggle did not come out for breakfast, we suspected that Biggy had given birth in an underground burrow, a common birthing practice for meerkats”.

Over the following days, Biggy was seen intermittently, coming out for food while the rest of the meerkat group took turns babysitting the newborns. On July 7, the two pups were seen out in their habitat, surrounded by the entire meerkat group, showcasing the strong familial bonds and communal care that meerkats are known for.

“The pups had been thriving on their mother’s milk and started eating solid food on July 21st and are becoming increasingly active and independent. The meerkat group remains vigilant and protective, ensuring the young ones are safe and well cared for as they explore their new environment.”

The meerkat is a member of the mongoose family. It is a social and curious animal that lives underground in groups called mobs, gangs or clans. Much of its time is spent digging and foraging for food including insects, roots, eggs, small reptiles and scorpions – the meerkat is immune to scorpions’ venom, unlike humans.

While the genders of the two pups are currently unknown, Fota are on the hunt for name suggestions from the public. Suggestions can be submitted at fotawildlife.ie/news