Nashville Zoo Welcomes Meerkat Pups

NASHVILLE, TN — A long-time resident of the Nashville Zoo delivered an extra-cute surprise last month.

Victoria, one of the zoo's meerkats, delivered three pups August 17. Victoria and Calvin, her mate of more than two and a half years, are first-time parents.

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"We were a little surprised the two had pups just because they are a little older," zookeeper Jessica James told The Tennessean. "We were planning to adjust as needed if they didn't have pups. We were happily surprised."

Meerkats are highly social animals with extensive and sophisticated group dynamics. Family groups are crucial to the species, so the pups will remain with mom and dad and their extended family at the Nashville Zoo.

Victoria and Calvin have been splitting parental duties: when Victoria's not nursing the pups in the burrow, Calvin is there taking care of their new additions.

The pups are now on exhibit, though they spend most of their time in the den and will do so until they start to feel a bit braver.

Image via Nashville Zoo.