Meerkats: 8th Litter
Posted at 11:54 am February 12, 2009 by Laura Weiner
It is good to know there are always constants in life. I just finished reading through all of my meerkat blogs, and I am amazed at what has happened in the three short years we have had this group! (See previous blog, Meerkats: Heat Seekers) Ngami, never one to disappoint, had her eighth litter on Tuesday, February 3. And as part of doing things her own way, she brought the pups out on day one. Of course, this is not normal meerkat behavior, but I have grown used to the way this mob raises its pups. We have all adapted to their methods and have been quite successful.
This week was a tough time to be born and out in the elements so quickly. It rained most of the time and was quite chilly for a small pup with barely any hair. I saw three pups the first day and have seen three every day since then. Ngami has been bringing them out, leaving them in the dirt and then heading off to dig a hole. After eight litters, I am not surprised. But somehow this group makes it work (with a little help from their keepers, of course).
With past litters I have been able to “tell” Ngami, our dam, to put the babies back and she has listened. This week being so cold, I needed to assist a bit more. The meerkats have been using their heated, dry nest box as a den for the pups, which is a great improvement over past choices. But I have still encountered some cold, muddy, and wet pups out of the den. On Friday, February 6, for about 30 minutes, I had put the pups back into the nest box quite a few times only to have them removed and left in the mud somewhere. I had to take all three pups into the back and warm them up under the heat lamp. I also cleaned off the mud and dried their fur. I locked the rest of the group out for about five minutes to give the pups a chance to warm up. Once they had been separated from Ngami for this period of time, she was concerned. I was glad to see that when I gave her access to the pups she took each one and placed it back in the nest box.
Over the last few days they have been keeping the pups warm and dry in the nest box, which makes all of us keepers very happy. I am hopeful that the pups will make it through these very important first three weeks and will start coming out on their own. As always, it is never quiet in the meerkat exhibit, and soon there will be 16 barking, chirping, and growling diggers basking in the sun.
Laura Weiner is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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February 12th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
aww poor pups…yeah that is weird that she leaves them out..but I guess that she knows that she has no predators lurking..but still shes a mom and she should feel like to protect them or keep them warm…nice story!
February 12th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I always enjoy seeing and hearing about the meerkats and their pups. Thank you for this endearing account and for taking such good care of them.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Yay! I love the meerkats! Hopefully, it would not be as dramatic as Meerkat Manor!
February 13th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
WOW!!! Litter #8 for Ngami! Congrats to the new, if somewhat dysfunctional mom! I am surprised that she is STILL taking the pups out of the den during the first few days of their lives after so many reinforcements/redirections from the keepers on keeping the pups inside the den for the first 3 weeks with her past litter of pups! I guess that she hasn’t really learned how to make sure her babies stay warm, dry, and fed for those first 3 weeks in the den. It’s a good thing that you all, her meerkat keepers, are right there to make sure that those 3 pups are being treated well, and enforcing your rule of making sure the pups stay in the den. I guess what really finally sunk into Ngami’s brain about that was when you all had to take the pups inside to clean, dry, and warm them up for those few minutes. When Ngami realized that her pups weren’t around, then “the light” finally clicked on in her mind that she had better behave with these pups. Sounds like it’s working so far! Stay on her, ok? Apparently she needs alot more reinforcements and redirections from you all! At least there’s never a dull moment at the SDZ Meerkat Manor!!
I love meerkats!!! They are fun to watch!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
February 14th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Laura, thank you for the latest adventures of Ngami and family. They certainly are busy little meerkats! Poor little babies, getting left out in the rain and cold; good thing you are there to look out for them. Love them all.
February 15th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Oh yeah, BTW, who’s the daddy of these pups?? Curious meerkat fans would like to know that answer! Ngami should have a life long “hubby” around to have this many pups over the last few years! Let us know!!
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
February 17th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Hi Chari,
The father of all of the pups (from all 8 litters) is Ghanzi, our dominant male. He does a great job keeping the pups warm when they are outside and will sit in the hay tub with them. Today the three pups are two weeks old and their eyes finally opened! So far they are doing well and it is looking like they have made it through the first few tough weeks. Make sure to stop by in the next month and check them out.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Congratulatioons on the birth of the pups!