A family of meerkats, one of Africa’s most entertaining species, burrows into visitors’ hearts in this special exhibit at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

First popularized by the comical sidekick Timon in Disney’s “The Lion King,” and then celebrated in the Animal Planet television series “Meerkat Manor” (2005-2009), meerkats are members of the mongoose family that live in social “mobs” or “gangs” of up to 30 members in burrows in the Kalahari Desert, in the southern African nations of Botswana and South Africa.

“These are active animals with very charismatic faces and highly interesting social structures, so they're a lot of fun for visitors to watch,” said Jack Schneider, the Aquarium’s curator of animals.

No mere cats, meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are fascinating for living in cooperative societies, including a foraging strategy where adults take turns standing guard, watching for predators, while the others eat. Indeed, generally whenever you visit the Aquarium’s “Meerkats” exhibit, one meerkat will be perched at a high “lookout” spot while the others feed, play or nap.

Opened in May 2010, “Meerkats” features six sibling meerkats – three males, three females – born in July 2009 at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Their Aquarium exhibit offers the meerkats lots of opportunities for climbing, digging and exploring. For young visitors, a special viewing bubble lets children pop up right among the meerkats.

“Plus, to keep the meerkats happy and engaged, our animal-husbandry staff gives them new things to explore every day,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “So, on different days, you may see the meerkats swinging in a hammock, crawling through tubes or wrestling in cardboard boxes.”

The exhibit is made possible by Bank of America and Fifth Street Capital.