Adorable Meerkat pups born at Taronga Zoo, first in seven years

How's this for cute? Taronga Zoo is celebrating the birth of its first Meerkat pups in nearly seven years.

The newborns weigh only afew grams. Source: Taronga Zoo

The fluffy African natives ventured out of their nest box for the first time this week, to explore Taronga’s African-themed Meerkat exhibit.

The pups’ sex will be confirmed later this month when they have their first vaccinations and a veterinary examination, although zoo keepers suspect they have a male and a female.

Despite only weighing a few grams when born, they both now tip the scales at more than 120 grams and have begun to sample solid foods such as fly pupae and mealworms.

“They were initially a little wary of this big new world outside, but with a bit of encouragement from mum and dad they started to explore,” zoo keeper Courtney Mahony said.

“They may be young, but they’re already showing signs of their own little personalities.

"Our male is the bigger of the two and he’s more adventurous and inquisitive, while the female is quieter and prefers to stay close to mum."

They are also practicing for sentry duty, trying to stand on their hind legs.