A baby meerkat at Perth Zoo has disappeared, with keepers fearing it has been stolen or taken by a predatory bird.

Perth Zoo curators of operations John Lemon said the staff were devastated by the loss and working closely with police, as well as reviewing CCTV footage, in an effort to locate the missing infant.

"We take utmost pride in looking after the welfare and husbandry of these animals so we do take it quite tough," Mr Lemon told ABC Radio Perth.

The zoo had been celebrating the birth of the meerkitten, which was born on August 20 as part of a regional breeding program.

The baby meerkat spent its first four weeks in the nest box, but had recently started venturing out on exhibit, the zoo said.

The missing meerkitten photographed just a few hours before it disappeared. ( ABC News: Hugh Sando )

Perth Zoo was planning to hold a public event on Thursday to mark the meerkitten's birth, but keepers discovered the animal was missing during Wednesday evening rounds.

Mr Lemon said that the meerkats had been under almost constant watch by staff but there was a small window when it could have been taken from the enclosure.

"We don't actually have CCTV in that area but we do have CCTV very close to that area, on some of the pathways that lead to the exhibit, so we are just reviewing that now," he said.

"It's quite an effort to get into our meerkat enclosure. We have a glass viewing bay that surrounds the viewing area."

These photos and the video below were shot by the ABC on Wednesday, and are the last ones taken of the meerkitten before its disappearance.

Sorry, this video has expired Last vision of meerkitten before it disappeared from Perth Zoo

Meerkats require specialised diets and care and the zoo is appealing for the meerkitten to be returned urgently if it has been taken.

"As it is very young, it has only just been weaned from its mum so they are starting to introduce it to solid food and that's something is only its mum and rest of the meerkat troop can provide," Mr Lemon said.

"Because they are such a social carnivore it is quite imperative that the knowledge and skills are passed on from the rest of the troop so it really needs to be back in its home."

Birds a very real threat

The other possibility is that the baby meerkat was taken by a predatory bird, which is a problem for meerkats in zoos and in the wild.

"That is the biggest threat to them in the wild," he said.

"[In the wild] they set out sentinels whose duty is to look out for birds of prey in the sky."

If the meerkitten has been preyed on by a bird, the zoo may never find out exactly what happened. ( ABC News: Hugh Sando )

If the meerkitten has been taken by a bird, the zoo may never learn exactly what happened.

"If they do grab it and fly away and no-one sights it being taken it may be quite difficult if we don't find any remains," he added.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the zoo.