Dwarf mongoose triplets born at Drusillas Park

They have become a family of eight in less that a year

Author: Vanessa BellringerPublished 23rd Aug 2023

A pair of dwarf mongoose parents at Drusillas Park have welcomed three new pubs to the East Sussex zoo.

The triplets have joined older siblings, Maverick, Halo and Phoenix.

Mum, Goose, and dad, Stasher, only met last year and have since had six children, making them a family of eight.

Zoo Business Manager, Sue Woodgate, said: “We recently refurbished the mongoose enclosure and it’s really wonderful to see it teeming with life and fun now.

“This mongoose family is always incredibly active and both the zookeepers and our visitors love watching them play and interact with one another.

“Now their family has grown, there’s sure to be even more high jinks and games.”

She added: “It’s always very special welcoming new arrivals at the zoo and this year we’ve seen a real baby boom.

“Three tiny squirrel monkeys: Mateo, Lucia, and Rafael were born in June. The zoo’s most experienced mama, meerkat Tamu, welcomed Reggie on 24th May, and we’ve had some silvery marmosets too, who the public chose to name Luna and Alba on the Park’s social media.

“Visitors have probably also noticed baby colobus monkey Pedro (named after one of the zoo’s longstanding keepers), who was born on 8th April and likes to get up to all sorts of mischief.”

The dwarf mongoose is the smallest mongoose in the world, weighing between 200-300 grams when fully grown.

The pups’ genders haven’t been confirmed yet, and keepers are asking for help in deciding their names.

The theme is anything ‘Top Gun’ related – like their siblings.

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