SHANGHAI Zoo yesterday unveiled a new breed of animal as seven African meerkats greeted visitors for the first time, having been in quarantine since arriving early this month.

The meerkats, born in South Africa, are less than 2 years old and have been brought to Shanghai from other parks in China, the zoo operator said. The hope is that the small nimble animals can breed in the city.

The meerkats, four of them male, were shy when they first arrived at the zoo, said Pan Xiuwen, a zoo official.