Simplified: The Great Plains Zoo welcomed six new animals, including five meerkats and a 2-year-old giraffe named Mario.

Why it matters

• Mario's arrival this week comes about four months after the death of Chioke, a reticulated giraffe who came to the zoo back in 2007 as just a one-year-old. The Great Plains Zoo is also home to another reticulated giraffe, 17-year-old Olivia Dee.
• The meerkats are joining a brand new habitat as part of the African lion building that opened this summer. The two meerkats who are in the giraffe barn – Biff and Clementine – will stay put in their existing home.
• The zoo would like to remind visitors to take particular care around the new arrivals, including remaining calm, keeping voices low and refraining from tapping on the glass.

Tell me more

Mario was born in the Lincoln Children's Zoo in June 2022 to mom Kendy and dad Joey. He's approximately 12 feet tall and will keep growing until he's about 4 years old.

• To start, he'll be in the giraffe barn as he quarantines and gets used to his new surroundings.

All five meerkats came from the Oakland Zoo, and they're all male. Their names are Kai, Api, Ixigaza, Zimwi and Khoa. They're also going to be sticking indoors to start, but once they're used to their new habitat, they'll also have access to their outdoor exhibit.