Wildlife centre welcomes baby meerkat

Keepers have not yet been able to identify whether the youngster, known as a pup, is male or female, but it is the first to be born at Sheffield's Tropical Butterfly House and Wildlife Centre.

Staff had been trying to breed from a pair of animals known as Stumpy and Mrs Meerkat, but after several months of disappointment they brought in a new male, named Mr Meerkat.

Centre director John Llewellyn said: "Mr and Mrs Meerkat have only been together for about four months, so we are obviously delighted that they have already produced."

The pup has not yet been named. Young visitors to the centre, in South Anston, may be asked to make suggestions.