Meerkats safe on their manor at Cumbrian wildlife park
Last updated at 14:31, Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Three generations of a meerkat family are enjoying the simples life at a wildlife park in Cumbria – and a fourth will soon be on its way.
The mammals – made famous by a TV insurance advert – are living happily at Trotters World of Animals at Armathwaite.
Adam Buxton, reptile keeper, said: “They are lovely to have around and we rarely see them fighting.
“We’ve got seven meerkats in total. Dad usually patrols around and watches out for things – if he hears a quad bike or sees a keeper he doesn’t recognise he might let out a squeal.
“Mum usually does most of the babysitting and looks after the children. She is pregnant again at the moment and pregnancy usually lasts three to four months.
“The older brother and sister are busy teaching the younger three meerkats how to dig and climb.
“The three little ones pester their dad all the time and like to play.
“They are extremely popular with our visitors. The three youngsters haven’t been named yet. They are going to be sexed this week and then we will decide on names. Aleksandr and Sergei are popular at the moment although I’m not that keen!
“The mum is called Judy and the dad is called Dave. The older brother is Akule, a native American name that means look up, and Elsa is the daughter.”
Mr Buxton said the meerkats are not that keen on the snowy, icy weather and have been congregating around their heat lamp and running into their boxes.
“The dad still goes on patrol in the snow – he doesn’t mind too much. The others like digging and in this weather they get very dirty.”
Aleksandr Orlov, the meerkat star of the ads, is voiced by Simon Greenall, originally from Longtown and a former pupil of Lochinvar School.
He now lives in West Kensington, London, with his wife Suzanne.
Aleksandr has his own Facebook and Twitter page, featuring T-shirts and limited-edition cuddly toys.
First published at 11:42, Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Have your say
- Is Cumbrian man, 21, set to be youngest mayor in the country? (3 comments)
- Cumbria's health boss told off for having an opinion
- Cumbrian bus travel scheme for disabled extended (3 comments)
- Carlisle delicatessen bids for alcohol licence (3 comments)
- Another sighting of 'black panther' near Carlisle
- Plan to close six Cumbrian rubbish tips looks set to shelved (6 comments)
- Mixed reaction to allowing learner drivers onto motorways during lessons (6 comments)
- Check points at border if Scotland breaks away from union? (17 comments)
- Plan to close six Cumbrian rubbish tips looks set to shelved (6 comments)
- Permanent speed cameras installed in north Cumbria village (43 comments)
Court & crime
- Four years for kicking in man's head outside Cumbrian takeaway
- Cumbrian woman dropped drugs in van on way to court
- Cumbrian mum-of-five admits £40,000 benefits fiddle
- Benefit fraud charges before Carlisle court involve over £200,000
- 'Bloodbath' at Carlisle hospital as woman attacks police - court
- Banged up
Anne Pickles
Mark Green
Search for:
| NEWS & STAR ON: | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Vote
Quick links
- Tribute to Cumbrian boy, 9, who died after asthma attack
- Cumbrian father-of-three found hanged
- Cumbrian woman, 20, turned to drink after alleged sex attack - inquest
- £500,000 store set to open in Carlisle village (5 comments)
- Is Cumbrian man, 21, set to be youngest mayor in the country? (3 comments)
- Carlisle 'bypass' to open on Tuesday (54 comments)
- More than 100 road accidents as ice causes problems across Cumbria (40 comments)
- Another Carlisle city centre store closes down (44 comments)
- 12 hurt, seven taken to hospital after M6 pile-up in Cumbria (40 comments)
- Cumbria police name man in sudden death probe
- Permanent speed cameras installed in north Cumbria village (43 comments)
- ‘State shouldn’t interfere on gay marriage’ says Cumbria uni Chancellor (70 comments)
- 'Black panther' spotted in field near Carlisle - claim (82 comments)
- Dog fouling hit squad to patrol Carlisle streets (48 comments)
- Happiness is a city called Carlisle (47 comments)
