Zookeepers at the Ramat Gan Safari are excited to welcome a new set of quadruplets – meerkat pups born to proud mother meerkat Angie.
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Female meerkats Angie and Tamar recently joined the safari's meetkat population. Each group of meerkats has only one female that reproduces, so keepers decided to separate Angie and Tamar into two separate groups.
Video: Rachel Ben Ezra
The staff were happy when, one day, they note that Angie was not out and about. Her pregnant belly had flattened, and every time she left her burrow to each, she would take the food back with her, not remaining outside for more than a few seconds.
The zookeepers waited for Angie to bring out her pups, and tried to guess how many she had given birth to. At one point, Safar keeper Rachel Ben Ezra peeked inside the burrow and counted four, but was not sure they would all survive.
For three weeks, the pups stayed inside the burrow, with mother Angie making only occasional appearances. Slowly, Angie began to appear more comfortable and allowed herself to stay outside for longer, enjoying the sun. The two male meerkats in her group also appeared busier and more active.
This week, three weeks after they were born, the meerkat pups have made their public debut. All four stick close to Angie, as they still haven't been weaned. This stage of their development is expected to last a few more weeks. In the meantime, the pups are starting to familiarize themselves with their enclosure.
Meanwhile, Tamar and her male, Gili, are in an adjacent enclosure, and Safari staff hope that they will soon become parents to pups of their own.
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