Meerkat pups take first outdoor steps at park

The four meerkat pups have been exploring their surroundings for the first time

Four meerkat pups have been spotted taking their first outdoor steps at a North Yorkshire wildlife park.

Askham Bryan Wildlife Park said the slender-tailed meerkats began to explore their surroundings in September after venturing out of their burrow.

Born blind and without fur, the meerkats were cared for by parents Lenny and Crookshanks before emerging from underground.

The adult pair arrived as the wildlife park, based at Askham Bryan College's York campus, in July, having previously been at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire.

The pups spent a fortnight underground before emerging from their burrow

Tilly McGill, deputy animal sciences and conservation manager, said: “When we introduced Lenny and Crookshanks together, they got on incredibly well and would not leave each other’s side.

"With a short two-month gestation, we were eagerly anticipating the arrival of babies.”

The new arrivals, which are yet to be named, spent two weeks in their burrow before they were strong enough to leave, the wildlife park said.

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