A zoo farm has welcomed a new arrival – a baby meerkat.

The baby meerkat, which measures just 10cm, was born a few weeks ago at Noah's Ark.

The bundle of fluff has been enjoying the good weather and sunbathing with mum Mary, on the grassy area outside his pen.

Staff at Noah's Ark have been unable to tell what sex the baby meerkat is because it is too small, but hope to find out in the next few weeks, so they can give it a name.

Noah's Ark head keeper, Sadie Garland, said: "This is our first baby Meerkat and we are delighted that both mother and baby are doing well.

"The baby has just started venturing outside and is digging anything and everything, all under the watchful gaze of mum."

The three male meerkats at the zoo farm all share parenting responsibilities for the new arrival with the mother.

Although it is likely that alpha male – the head honcho of three meerkats is the daddy – no one can be sure.

While it is typical for one dominant female to be responsible for about 75 per cent of births in a meerkat family, subordinate males and females share the responsibility of taking care of the pups as surrogate mothers and 'baby-sitters', until they are able to take care of themselves.

Zoo farm spokeswoman, Samantha Cordrey, said: "The three male meerkats all look after the baby with the mother.

"It is really cute because they pass the baby from one to another."

Baby meerkats can take from two to four weeks to emerge from their den and are vulnerable to the cold.

Their parents will not bring them to the surface until it is sufficiently warm.

The new baby meerkat is among hundreds of fascinating and exciting animals at the zoo farm, which attracts 100,000 visitors each year.