Owners of a zoo near Sandbach are celebrating after three meerkats were born - a first for the fast-growing zoo.

Keepers at Holmes Chapel Zoo, based on land at The Orchards Farm next to Bidlea Dairy, went in one morning to discover that female meerkat, Rehema, had given birth to three babies.

Now the zoo is busy ensuring Rehema's babies - who are just over two weeks old - continue to flourish and are happy in their environment.

Melissa Mews who runs Holmes Chapel Zoo with husband Ben told Sandbach Nub News: "It's Rehema's first time and our first time too!

"They're just over two weeks old now and haven't been named yet. It's too soon to say whether they are male or female but a health check has revealed they are nice and strong and doing really well.

"Their dad is called Chiku. Rehema joined us in 2023 when she was aged two and joined our batchelor group of meerkats. Chiku joined us in 2018 aged six months.

"He became the Alpha last year taking over from our elderly boy Neo who is still living with the others."

Melissa added: "There have been a few occasions when we thought Rehema was pregnant but each time it came to nothing.

"This time we didn't really think much of it and therefore didn't get too excited, so when we found them in the morning of the 28th, it was definitely a very lovely surprise!"

They are currently not on show at the zoo but watch this space for more details as they grow and finally go on show to visitors to the zoo.



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