FOUR mischievous meerkat pups have been born at Chester Zoo.

The quadruplets have been tucked away in their den since they arrived to first time parents Huskie and Beagle but they have now ventured out and started exploring their habitat for the very first time.

Yet to be sexed or named by keepers, the four siblings were born on March 26.

Once the zoo’s keepers have determined the sex of the pups, they will then decide on the names.

Lead keeper Kirsten Wicks, said: “There are 21,000 animals here at the zoo, but surely none are cuter than these pups.

“Parents Huskie and Beagle have been minor celebrities since they appeared on Channel 4’s The Secret Life of The Zoo last month.

“Visitors have been really keen to know how they’re getting on, so it’s amazing to be able to share the great news about their new arrivals.

“This is their first litter and the pups are doing incredibly well, they have already began learning how to forage for food and are spending lots of time grooming and playing together.

"It’s the start of a growing, happy new mob.”

Native to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola, meerkats live in underground burrows in large groups of around 30 called a gang or a mob and they can also close their ears to keep dirt out while digging.

Meerkats have scent pouches below their tales and will rub the pouches on rocks to mark their territory.

They have patches around their eyes to cut down on glare and to see into the distance.