Meerkats celebrate 'Zoobilee' with patriotic picnic at Whipsnade Zoo

Meerkat Pixie
Keepers wanted to get the weasel-like animals to use their natural scavenging skills. Credit: Zoological Society of London

Meerkats at Whipsnade Zoo are celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with their very own "Zoobilee".

Keepers surprised Pixie and Bibbity with a patriotic picnic - complete with wicker baskets containing their favourite food and union flag bunting.

Four-year-old Pixie scampered through the newly-decorated habitat, searching for pellets and brown crickets.

The zoo in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, is home to 10,000 animals.

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The Zoobilee Festival is a week-long celebration of traditional British family fun, food and games, said the zoo. Credit: Zoological Society of London

Run by the Zoological Society of London, the conservation zoo is best known for its herd of Asian elephants.

The "Zoobilee" officially begins on Saturday and will last for a week throughout the half term school holidays.

Where will the royals be over the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend?

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