SLO County zoo just added 3 new meerkats. How to see the ‘Bee Girls’
The Central Coast Zoo announced the arrival of three female meerkats on Wednesday, the newest residents of its Madagascar exhibit.
Named Bumble, Buzz and Honeycomb, the three sisters, all 2 years old, are called the “Bee Girls,” and will be joining the zoo’s current male meerkat residents Axel and Prince in hopes of creating a “lively new social dynamic within the habitat,” a news release said.
Native to Southern Africa, meerkats are highly social creatures who live in groups as large as 50.
According to the release, the groups operate under a strict female hierarchy, where usually only the dominant male and female breed, while the group all works together to raise offspring.
“The arrival of the Bee Girls has already brought fascinating new behaviors and interactions to the habitat, giving visitors a unique opportunity to observe this activity and engaging species,” it said.
The zoo’s recently revealed Madagascar exhibit also features red-ruffled and ring-tailed lemurs, Madagascar teals, and tortoises.
The meerkat trio joined the Central Coast Zoo in time for its upcoming 23rd annual “Ice Cream Zoofari,” on Saturday, June 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring all-you-can-eat ice cream, sundaes and toppings from Harmony Creamery.
The event will also have hands on learning from Central Coast Trains and opportunities to learn how animals stay cool in the summer months.
For more information visit: www.centralcoastzoo.org.
