Last month, eleven-year-old meerkat Soya Bean gave birth to two pups, much to the excitement of keepers at the Leeds zoo attraction.
The babies, born on 21 April, have already begun venturing out, with proud mum Soya Bean eager to introduce them to the world – far earlier than expected. A familiar face at Tropical World, Soya Bean is one of the original members of the meerkat mob and previously gave birth to two pups in 2020, affectionately named Jelly Bean and Lima Bean.
The new father, Jay-Z, a five-year-old meerkat who arrived from Flamingo Land in 2022 as a potential mate for Soya Bean, has stepped into his new role as dad with ease. The growing meerkat clan continues to charm visitors, with the latest pups already proving to be tiny crowd-pleasers.
An ultrasound appointment had been scheduled to confirm the pregnancy, but Soya Bean had other ideas. Just days before the scan, she surprised staff by giving birth to two pups in her nestbox. The new arrivals, who are yet to be named, will follow the family’s quirky naming tradition — each pup will be named after a type of bean, just like their older siblings Jelly Bean and Lima Bean.
Meerkat pregnancies last around 11 weeks, typically resulting in litters of two to five pups. Born blind and furless, newborn meerkats rely on full-time care from their parents for the first few weeks until they’re strong enough to explore outside the burrow.
To support animals like Soya Bean and her growing family, Tropical World has launched a meerkat adoption programme. Visitors can now symbolically adopt a meerkat for a year, helping to fund their care and contribute to the zoo’s wider conservation efforts.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space said:
“It is always exciting to welcome new arrivals to our zoos and I’m pleased that the meerkat family is doing well. Tropical World has much to offer and is a great place to educate yourself about all the different species and the important conservation work that the zoo facilitates.
“Visitors exploring the zoo can learn about the incredible animals and the threats which are affecting their populations in the wild. The zoo and its staff play an important part in protecting vulnerable species.”
Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor to Leeds, Tropical World offers an immersive experience into the wonders of the natural world, making it a must-visit destination for all ages www.tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk
