A decently designed enclosure in a good sized space wasted with this species. Depending on the entire space size and how deep and soft the sand is, I'd place something like a Fennec Fox or Aardvark in here, even if they might not be as active in here during the day as a Meerkat would.
A decently designed enclosure in a good sized space wasted with this species. Depending on the entire space size and how deep and soft the sand is, I'd place something like a Fennec Fox or Aardvark in here, even if they might not be as active in here during the day as a Meerkat would.
Big picture, Meerkats may not me your (or mine's) favourite species but the general public love them and will spend longer looking at them than Fennec Foxes or Aardvarks who probably won't be active and/or viewable during their (daytime) visit. Like it or not, pretty much every zoo needs Meerkats to keep the public happy and contribute towards their zoo experience and a great day out.
I don't agree. Only three of the 13 collections I've visited have had Meerkats and the Smithsonian National Zoo was the only big-name zoo with them on that list. The other two were the small and only recently accredited by the AZA Maritime Aquarium and the WCS's Prospect Park Zoo, both of which are very small collections.
I don't agree. Only three of the 13 collections I've visited have had Meerkats and the Smithsonian National Zoo was the only big-name zoo with them on that list. The other two were the small and only recently accredited by the AZA Maritime Aquarium and the WCS's Prospect Park Zoo, both of which are very small collections.
Check out Zootierliste for the European picture - there are over 350 European zoos with meerkats, with over 80 in the British Isles alone (and over 80 in Germany as well). They are ubiquitous, to say the least - and the 13th most-listed taxon on Zootierliste (Top 100 (only available in German): ZootierlisteHomepage).
It's a standing joke that keeping meerkats is a requirement for a zoo licence in the UK...
I don't agree. Only three of the 13 collections I've visited have had Meerkats and the Smithsonian National Zoo was the only big-name zoo with them on that list.
Maybe Meerkats don't have the same cultural significance in the USA as they have achieved particularly in the UK (and maybe in Europe too?) Unknown to the general public here thirty years ago, their popularity has steadily increased, largely through their use in a series of very popular Insurance Company T.V. advertising campaigns which have humanised them to a great degree. They are absolutely essential in UK zoos nowadays as a result!
