Timon at the Zoo

Because of our little surprise last week, the entry I had been working on got pushed back. Good News is since I already had it prepared in my test journal all I had to do to make this entry was add this little blurb and copy it over here. <g>

A couple of months ago the zoo got a colony of meerkats. Upon arrival it became apparent that two of the females were pregnant. Very good news! Into quarantine they went, and soon the colony was moved into there brand new exhibit.

Not long after being moved over to the exhibit it was noticed that both females were looking quite svelte. Hmmmmmm....... We were told that the babies were down in the burrows and that we probably wouldn't get a baby sighting for a few weeks.

A week ago Geoff called me at work and said that a baby had been spotted (note: this would now be -2- weeks ago now <g>). As soon as I could get out of work, I grabbed my trusty camera and sped over to the zoo to set myself down and practice some patience and hope that I would be lucky enough to get a glimpse of a baby meerkat.

I now have a lot of pictures of adult meerkats both from the week they were put into their exhibit originally, and from this little expedition. This picture is a favorite. I just love how the three of them lined up. But I wanted a baby picture... Darn It!

The little guys (and gals) spent quite a bit of time chasing each other around and basically being playful, active meerkats... but no babies...

Finally, as I was about to give up, every meerkat in the exhibit disappeared down into what appears to be the main burrow entrance. Hmmmmmmm...... after a few minutes one little meerkat came out and took up a post to the right of the burrow. A few seconds later he was joined by a second meerkat to the left and a little in front. Before long two more meerkats came out and with eyes to the sky took their posts. Moving slowly I positioned myself for what I had figured out was coming. Soon five little noses showed in the entrance of the burrow. They came out cautiously.  Whoo Hoo! Iwas going to get my pictures.

They eventually played for several minutes just outside of the burrow entrance. Spreading out they spent their time exploring, digging and sniffing, but never venturing very far from the safety of the door to their house. I got several pictures before a cleaning person slammed the door to the building that is the back wall to their exhibit. At the sharp noise all of the meerkats disappeared in the blink of an eye, the adults making the peculiar 'warning' noise that they make. Although eventually some of the adults did return to the surface, none of the babies joined them.

I plan to try to get more pictures as they grow and become more adventurous... and Geoff told me today that they think another of the females may become a Mommy soon!