Keeping Meerkat Pups in the Den
Posted at 10:33 am March 4, 2008 by Laura WeinerThings have been busy in the meerkat exhibit this past 12 days (see Laura’s previous blog, Meerkat Mayhem). Ngami gave birth on Thursday, February 21, in her den. Of course, the only way we know this is by observing her and the group.
First we look at Ngami, our dominant female and mom. Her belly gets huge as she progresses through pregnancy, and then one day it will be almost flat again. Also her teats are more apparent once she has given birth. The area around them is hairless once the pups begin nursing. And the other clue is a missing meerkat; usually Seronga, our least dominant adult female, will be underground caring for the pups. It is quite a society where everyone helps to raise the pups. Mom feeds them and moves them and the others take turns caring for them.
The history of this group has not been stellar. Every time Ngami is pregnant we wonder if this time she will choose to leave the pups underground for at least two to three weeks. That gives them a good chance of survival. So when day 5 came and out came a pup, I was frustrated but also determined to have this mob of meerkats raise their litter. I went into the exhibit and checked the pup out. We worry about the pups being warm enough at this fragile stage. They do have a light coating of hair but not enough to help them survive outside of the den for very long.
I decided to try something different this time. After I checked the pup out I gave it back to Ngami. I then told her to “put the pup back in the den.” Lo and behold, she did! I was amazed. Same thing happened later in the day. Okay, this is a new strategy, but if it works, I am going with it. Day 6 brought more of the same; I would check the temperature of the pup and then tell Ngami to put it back. My fellow keepers did the same on my days off with success.
This went on until today. We were never sure how many pups were in the litter because we only ever saw one out of the den at a time. This afternoon I came to find two healthy pups in the sun with their family. One of the younger females was holding them close and guarding them from the others. They were all snuggling and rolling around with each other. Right as the day finished I received a call about one with a hurt front leg. When I arrived I saw a third pup! We are not sure what happened to the pup’s leg, but it does look a little curved. It will be monitored closely.
Laura Weiner is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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March 4th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hi Laura. Thanks for giving us an update on the pups. I’ve been concerned about them, knowing the gang’s previous history. I do hope they all go through this early period successfully and that pup with the possibly injured leg will be OK. See you on the mesa soon!
March 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Hey Laura, bet you didn’t know you could speak Meerkat!!! That really is amazing though - maybe it was the tone of your voice, I don’t know. Let’s hope the little one with the curvy leg is OK - how soon before you can get a closer look? Do the Meerkats let anyone else near their babies?
Have you ever thought of putting a small camera inside their den, like the ones you can put inside bird boxes, or would they chew the wires? Please keep us informed on how they’re all doing, just love the little cuties.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
How exciting! I can hardly wait to see them. Please keep us posted on their progress. Are the pups only out in the early morning? What is the best time to see them?
March 4th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
momma meerkat Laura,how great that Ngami trust you and the other keepers enough to really undersatnd what you are telling. I hope the little one with the injured leg is okay and the other two pups to well also. This is all so interesting to realize that they do have some understanding of language. It must be really exciting for you to have experienced this behavior first hand. Keep up the great work with the mob.
March 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Laura, how creative an plan. Glad to know that Ngami has enough trust in your relationship that she lets you near her pups, and that she listened to your command to put them back in the den. Glad to hear that things seem to be going better this time around. Maybe she needed “lessons” in how to keep them underground??? Hope the one with the hurt leg heals quickly and is soon able to run around with its siblings.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I’m sorry - and anyone who knows me knows that I love all animals - and that I am a HUGE fan of the SD Zoo and WAP - but gosh… these meerkats seem like a pretty disfunctional family if you ask me. And pardon the expression - but Ngami sounds a bit like the “Britney Spears” of meerkat moms - not very responsible. So maybe she shouldn’t be allowed to have anymore pups? I just hate hearing about the injured babies - it really made me sad reading the last few blogs about them. I do love visiting them - and they are awfully adorable, but … I’m just not sure what to think about the situation.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Hi #6 Cheryl. The way I look at it is this: if this family (and yes, it looks like they are dysfunctional) were in the wild, probably none of their babies would survive. Being in the loving care of the SDZ staff means most of them have a chance, which I personally think is very important. Like you, I love all animals - most of my cash goes on animal charities and I always put my pets before myself. I wish there were more zoos like SDZ. We have London Zoo here, which also owns Whipsnade (its breeding park) and over the years since I have known them they have improved greatly. When I went as a little girl in the 1960’s I remember London Zoo as being grey and dull and the animals were NOT happy. Now they’ve got the hang of it - but they don’t have cams like SDZ does, and I think they still have a long way to go.
I think these little Meerkats have got the best start to life they could ever have, and with Laura and the gang’s care, the majority will make it.
I hope Ngami doesn’t turn out totally like Britney!!
If the animals can’t help themselves, then WE must help them.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Laura, you are a great keeper! Thanks to your new initiative, the pups are beeing kept warm and safe. I am confident that the excellent veterinary staff of your Zoo will soon found out something for the third pup’s curvy leg.
I look forward for new updates about the little ones.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Hi Laura, Thank you for your patience with these little ones, particularly Ngami but I Definetely agree with #6 that Ngami is the Britney Spears of the Meerkats. Is she a very young female? Also, was her mother still with her when she was growing up?
As adorable as these little ones are, after watching Meerkat Manor for so long, I’ve reached a conclusion that they are the cutest but, not the sweetest creatures on earth.
March 5th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Hi! Well, it looks like Ngami is learning her lesson of being a responsible mom this time. You all’s strategy that you described is working so far, and I hope that this will continue on the positive side. 3 pups? That’s a good litter for Ngami to take care of. I’m also glad that the other meerkat girls are taking their turns being babysitters and aunts to these pups. Hopefully, the dysfunctional side of this group will subside enough to where they will learn to work together a lot more. You all being there teaching them meerkat manners is helping, tho. They all needed that in a huge way! Keep us informed about the pup with the crooked leg, ok? Sounds like a small deformity to me. AP’s Meerkat Manor had an episode about one of Flower’s pups having the same condition, and this little guy had a lot of spunk and tried to keep up with the family despite the leg problem. Unfortunately, he didn’t live long enough, tho. So, I do hope that this pup with the leg problem in Ngami’s group will be able to grow and be strong enough to handle his little disability with a lot of spunk!
Keep on doing what you are doing with these cute little animals, ok? Meerkats are fun to watch even if I have to watch them on TV!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
March 5th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Thanks everyone - I suppose you are right - and that really, the best place for a dysfunctional family would be the SD Zoo - where at least the highly skilled staff can assist them and hopefully teach them the proper way to raise babies - and also nurse back to health any injured pups. I just hate hearing about an injured animal - but I know that the staff will do their best to take care of them.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Hi everyone. I happened to stop by the exhibit today and saw one of the babies out and about. I only saw the one but he (or she?) was being very well taken care of. The adults appeared to be very attentive and the youngster seemed to be safe and ever so cute!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Please please, pretty please, could we have a picture of one of the babies? Adam the Zoo Tour Guide said the baby was “ever so cute” and I think everyone would love to see one.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
A quick update…we have four meerkat pups! We saw the fourth one on Tuesday afternoon. So far everyone is doing well and I am optimistic about their future with their family.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Wow, Laura, 4 pups! That is great news, especially that they are being well taken care of, and their health appears good too. How’s the pup with the crooked leg?
Glad Ngami is learning her lessons well, and listening to you when you tell her what to do.
March 8th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Wonderful news. Hope the Britney Spears of the meerkat world is able to keep up the good work! How is the meekat speak going?
March 14th, 2008 at 11:57 am
So happy to read that the meerkat pups are doing so well. Keep up the good work Ngami, and Laura! It was great fun to read about the adventure and having Ngami actually listen to you.
April 15th, 2008 at 3:58 am
Laura, Thanks so much for all your mob info!!! We visitied your Zoo Nov. 2006 and just LOVED it!! It was THE BEST!! I bet you just love going to “work” everyday!! Please continue to keep us informed. It’s so FUN!! Have a great day!