A special treat awaits visitors to Taronga’s Western Plains Zoo when lockdown lifts: three baby meerkats.

The trio recently emerged from their den at the Dubbo zoo after being born to parents Midra and Howell on August 16.  

The pups have five older siblings after Midra and Howell’s first litter was born last November.

The male and two females aren’t yet named.

The zoo is closed because of stay-at-home orders, as is its harbourside Sydney counterpart. 

But Taronga has pledged to provide regular updates on the new meerkats’ progress on social media.

“No doubt when the zoo does reopen a visit to see the meerkats will be high on the list of things to do, as they don’t stay little for too long,” meerkat keeper Karen James said on Tuesday.

Meerkat pups stay in a den for the first weeks of life until they open their eyes and become stronger.

The newborns are still feeding on their mother’s milk but will soon move on to solids. 

Like many of their human counterparts, the meerkats are due to be vaccinated soon.

They’ll get their first of three jabs at six weeks. 

“We are looking forward to watching the pups growth both in size and confidence as they start to explore their habitat more and more,” Ms James said. 

AAP

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