The "Really Cute" Meerkats to Stay Through at Least Labor Day at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

NORWALK, CT  –  “They’re so cuuuute,” and now they’re staying for at least a few more months.

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is extending the “Meerkats” special exhibit – featuring six adorable and entertaining meerkats – through at least Labor Day.  The exhibit originally was scheduled to close next month.

“They’re very cute and fun to watch,” said Judith Bacal, the Aquarium’s exhibits director. “We’re excited to have them here for a while longer.”

First popularized by the comical sidekick Timon in Disney’s “The Lion King,” and then celebrated in the Animal Planet television series “Meerkat Manor” (2005-2009), meerkats are members of the mongoose family that live in social “mobs” in the Kalahari Desert, in the southern African nations of Botswana and South Africa.

No mere cats, meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are fascinating for living in cooperative societies, including a foraging strategy where adults take turns standing guard, watching for predators, while the others eat. Indeed, generally whenever you visit the Aquarium’s “Meerkats” exhibit, one meerkat will be perched at a high “lookout” spot while the others feed, play or nap.

Opened in May 2010, “Meerkats” features six sibling meerkats – three males, three females – born in July 2009 at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Their Aquarium exhibit offers the meerkats lots of opportunities for climbing, digging and exploring. For young Aquarium visitors, a special viewing bubble lets children pop up right among the meerkats.

“Plus, to keep the meerkats happy and engaged, our animal-husbandry staff gives them new things to explore every day,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “So, on different days, you may see the meerkats swinging in a hammock, crawling through tubes or wrestling in cardboard boxes.”

The exhibit has proven to be so popular that the Aquarium installed a “meerkat cam,” for visitors who want to check up on the animals’ activities remotely. (Click on it at www.maritimeaquarium.org.)

“Meerkats” is made possible by Bank of America and Fifth Street Capital.

It’s within another Africa-related exhibit, “Africa: From the Desert to the Sea,” which displays some of the lesser-known but equally fascinating aquatic creatures of Africa, including lungfish, electric catfish and colorful cichlids and reef fish.    “Africa: From the Desert to the Sea” also is sponsored by Bank of America and also is being extended at least through Labor Day.

“Meerkats” and “Africa: From the Desert to the Sea” are both included with Maritime Aquarium general admission, which is $12.95 for adults, $11.95 for seniors 65+, and $9.95 for children 2-12.

For more information about The Maritime Aquarium’s exhibits, IMAX movies and programs, go online to www.MaritimeAquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700.