'Baby boom' sees new meerkats and bison at Cork's Fota Wildlife Park

Fota Wildlife Park has announced the birth of three meerkat pups and two bison calves in what is being described as a “baby boom”.

The meerkat pups were born to mother Biggy and dad Snaggles, who previously welcomed another three pups together earlier this year. With these new arrivals, the Meerkat mob now stands at 16 strong.

A spokesperson for Fota Wildlife Park explained: “On May 13, one baby meerkat was spotted in the habitat with their mother, and by the next day, two more had emerged, closely guarded by their protective family.

“The other of the mob, including dad Snaggles, care for the young and are known to collectively feed, protect and groom the new pups.”

Biggy, originally from DierenPark Zoo in the Netherlands, arrived at Fota Wildlife Park in May 2023 alongside her sister Missy.

The three new arrivals will add to the current group including father Snaggle and his sons Luigi and Bundi, and females including Biggy, Missy, Biggles, Bing, Peach, Shongo, and Lolo.

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.

Fota Wildlife Park is also thrilled to welcome two female European bison calves born just a week apart on April 15 and 21.

The calves were both fathered by the bull Bomer, who came from Borås Djurpark in Sweden in February 2024. These are his first two offspring.

The Fota spokesperson said: “The calves are already best friends, who can be seen playing, snoozing, and soaking up the sunshine together. Their mums are both healthy and very protective.

“The European bison, the largest mammal in Europe, was once extinct in the wild; however, collaborative efforts by many zoos and wildlife parks, including Fota Wildlife Park, which contributed from its own herd, have helped reintroduce the species to the wild in parts of Europe and, more recently, the UK.”