Three tiny meerkat pups born at Blair Drummond Safari Park after 'tense' start in life

A trio of adorable tiny meerkat pups have been born at Blair Drummond Safari Park, but one faced a tense start in life because of the recent bad weather.

The pups, who were born to parents Cardi B and Biggie, join three older siblings which were also named after rappers and were born last summer in the parents’ first litter.

With the recent miserable weather, the meerkat family faced an unexpected challenge when temperatures dropped much lower than normal for this time of year.

The park’s keepers grew concerned when they found one of the pups appearing lifeless.

They quickly intervened and brought the family indoors and animal collections manager Kristine Fennessy Alexander warmed up the pup by holding it against her skin.

Remarkably, within five minutes, the pup began to show signs of life.

After an hour under a heat lamp and a few doses of critical care, the pup made a miraculous recovery.

“It was a tense moment, but the pup showed incredible resilience. We are all relieved and delighted by its recovery,” Kristine said.

Meerkats, known for their strong social bonds, have a unique journey into the world.

The blind, deaf, nearly bald pups are born underground, safe from predators, after a two and a half month pregnancy.

For their first ten days, their eyes and ears remain closed, but soon they open to explore their surroundings.

As the weeks pass, the pups flourish under the protective care of their parents, gradually venturing beyond the burrow’s confines at the three-week mark.

During the early days, it is not just the parents who look after the pups – their siblings also share the duty of raising them, and keeping an eye on the pups when their mum is busy foraging, and role modelling correct behaviour for the youngsters to observe and imitate.

Carolyn Booth, the dedicated pets farm team leader said: “Thanks to the quick actions of the team, we were luckily able to ensure the survival of all three pups. It’s wonderful to see this little family grow, and we are happy to report that all members are pitching in to take care of the little ones.

“As the pups begin to explore their surroundings, we can see that they are growing more confident by the day.”