HE’S cute, he’s cuddly and he is, quite definitely, a survivor.

Peanut, the baby meerkat had a grim start in life but, thanks to some tender loving care from his human minders, he is now as fit as a fiddle.

And this Easter he will finally be meeting the public, when he makes his debut appearance at Thorp Perrow Arboretum, near Bedale, North Yorkshire.

Peanut was one of four young born on Meerkat Island, at the Arboretum’s Mammal Centre, in February.

However, the youngsters were rejected by the others. Three died and a rescue operation was launched to save Peanut.

It involved staff at the centre feeding the youngster by syringe every hour of the day – which in turn meant his very patient human foster-parents lost a lot of sleep.

To keep him warm, he accompanied staff members wherever they went – going to their homes at night and even attending a staff party.

Mammal Centre owner Tom Graham said: “Peanut is now nine weeks old and is fit and healthy – but to begin with, we were worried he wouldn’t make it through the night.

“I am amazed that we managed to save his life.

“But when you look at how adorable he is now, you know it was worth all those sleepless nights.”

The centre has also recently become the new home of two endangered Welsh Harlequin Ducks.

Staff are hoping the ducks settle quickly and eventually breed, helping the survival of the species.