Fota Wildlife Park is delighted to announce the birth of three meerkat pups (Suricata suricatta) to mother Biggy, who gave birth on January 23rd 2025. These arrivals bring the meerkat mob’s total population to 13. The parents, Biggy and Snaggle, are the dominant breeding pair within the clan.
The young meerkats are very active in exploring their habitat which is located just inside the Main Entrance. Visitors can observe them playing in and around their burrows, nestled beneath the pampas grass at the centre of the meerkat and colobus habitat.
Biggy, originally from DierenPark Zoo in the Netherlands, arrived at Fota Wildlife Park in May 2023 alongside her sister, Missy. She was paired with resident male Snaggle, and the pair have successfully produced litters in the past.
Lead Ranger Teresa Power said: "On January 23rd, our Rangers noticed something unusual—both Biggy and Snaggle were absent from the main group, and we suspected that Biggy had given birth as we could faintly hear the litter from their underground burrows. The litter’s arrival was officially confirmed on February 14th, when the pups made their first public appearance. Our animal care team spotted the trio exploring their surroundings under the watchful eyes of their family members”.
“It is still too early to determine the gender of the pups, but one thing is certain—the entire mob is actively involved in their care. In keeping with typical meerkat behaviour, group members take turns babysitting and keeping the young warm, allowing Biggy and Snaggle time to rest and feed. As always, one meerkat remains on sentry duty, ready to sound the alarm at any perceived threat. Even the Park’s inquisitive colobus monkey youngster—who shares the habitat—has been keeping a close eye on the new arrivals.”
The meerkat mob consists of three males, father Snaggle and his sons, Luigi and Bundi (named after rugby star Bundee Aki). The group also consists of seven females, including the mother, Biggy, and her sister, Missy. Biggy’s daughters—Biggles, Bing, Peach, Shongo, and Lolo—complete the meerkat clan.
Meerkats belong to the mongoose family and are highly social, inquisitive animals. They live in underground groups known as mobs, gangs, or clans, spending much of their time digging and foraging for food such as insects, roots, eggs, and small reptiles.
In the wild, while some members of the mob forage, at least one remains on guard, standing upright to watch for predators such as eagles, foxes, or jackals. At the first sign of danger, the sentry issues an alarm call, prompting the group to retreat underground for safety.
Fota Wildlife Park, open daily, is a conservation charity whose vision is to inspire people to understand and conserve the biodiversity of our natural world. See www.fotawildlife.ie for more on opening times and ticket prices.
