MEERKAT PUPS ARE FIRM FAVOURITES – SIMPLES!
Four meerkat pups are fast becoming the star attraction at Blackpool Zoo after being born last month.
Meerkat popularity at the zoo has soared since Aleksandr the Meerkat burst onto TV screens in 2009 with his unforgettable ‘simples’ catchphrase and the four tiny babies have been spotted scampering by delighted visitors in the past week.
Their mother arrived from the Cotswolds Wildlife Park in January 2012 and became pregnant within months. Keepers were thrilled to find the four pups doing well and feeding from mum on the morning of July 4th after an 11 week gestation period.
Sofie Fawzy, Senior Mammal Keeper at Blackpool Zoo, said: “Meerkats have gone from virtual obscurity to super stars in the past three years and we are really pleased to welcome the four tiny pups to our meerkat family here at Blackpool Zoo.
“There isn’t a day that goes by when we don’t hear someone mention the word ‘simples’ when they visit the meerkat enclosure and it still brings a smile to our faces!
“Meerkat adoptions and sales of our meerkat toys have gone through the roof since 2009 and there is always a crowd watching the comical creatures here in the zoo.
“Over the next two months the babies will become more and more independent and they will be fully weaned and eating solids.
“Their mother, who is our alpha female, and our two male adult meerkats will share the parenting responsibility and we look forward to welcoming more pups in the future!”
Meerkats hail from the deserts and grasslands of the southern tip of Africa. Blackpool Zoo’s meerkat mob is fed on a diet of chicken, mice, beef chunks, mealworms and fruit and vegetables.
Blackpool Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Current opening hours are 10.00am until 5.45pm and last admission is 5.00pm. Visitors can save on admission prices by booking online at www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk.
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Notes to editors:
Pictures show: Blackpool Zoo’s meerkat pups
More information about Blackpool Zoo:
Blackpool Zoo celebrated its 40th anniversary on Friday 6th July 2012. It was in 1972 when 3543 visitors attended the launch, which saw TV’s Johnny Morris ride in front of the Mayor’s car on Tower Circus elephant Katsula.
Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes.
The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orang-utans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos.
For further information please contact:
Paula Holden, Julie Hackett or Denise Dawson at ICG on 01772 679383 or email paula@icgonline.co.ukjulie@icgonline.co.uk or denise@icgonline.co.uk
Out of office hours contact: Paula Holden on 07772268378
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