Initially housed otters, but has held Meerkats for quite a few years now. The back wall has been remodelled to look like an African hut. Currently holds three adults and four pups.
Initially housed otters, but has held Meerkats for quite a few years now. The back wall has been remodelled to look like an African hut. Currently holds three adults and four pups.
Well, while I'm not trying to say that Meerkats don't deserve a good enclosure, I think this enclosure is 1) much better suited for another species and 2) would be a better use of space if used for another species (such as the otters). I don't know how common Meerkats are in New Zealand, though, and they're probably not as common there as they are in most other parts of the world.
I was expecting zooboy28 to answer this seeing he's the resident Auckland Zoo expert, but he must be out in the field or something.
There are still small-clawed otters at the zoo (in two other enclosures). This was just one of the earlier enclosures which was vacated when they built a new otter enclosure. Zooboy28 can be more specific with time frames etc when he gets back.
I was expecting zooboy28 to answer this seeing he's the resident Auckland Zoo expert, but he must be out in the field or something.
There are still small-clawed otters at the zoo (in two other enclosures). This was just one of the earlier enclosures which was vacated when they built a new otter enclosure. Zooboy28 can be more specific with time frames etc when he gets back.
The otters actually vacated this enclosure around 2000 I think, at least between 1998-2001 according to my maps. From here they moved to a much larger enclosure with trees and streams (previously a waterfowl exhibit), opposite the old aquarium, until ~late 2007 when they moved into the new exhibit next to Tiger Territory, and also the exhibit in the rainforest.
Well, while I'm not trying to say that Meerkats don't deserve a good enclosure, I think this enclosure is 1) much better suited for another species and 2) would be a better use of space if used for another species (such as the otters). I don't know how common Meerkats are in New Zealand, though, and they're probably not as common there as they are in most other parts of the world.
Meerkats are as common in NZ as anywhere else, every major zoo and many small zoos hold them.
This particular exhibit held otters since it was built as far as I can tell, certainly in the early 1980s they lived here, and I don't know anything else that has lived here. It featured underwater viewing which was especially cool.
However it was too small for a big group, so their move was definitely a good thing. The Meerkats are a good species for this exhibit I think, I literally can't think of any other species that Auckland Zoo would realistically keep that would be better here. Its very narrow and too small for basically anything else. I would say its one of the least good exhibits at Auckland Zoo, but there's nothing bad about it for a small group of Meerkats. It is one of three enclosures at the zoo for this species though.
