Work On Meerkat Enclosure

Oh wow, knew this was planned to be big but didn’t realise it would be this big!

If they were to mix the meerkats with some other species (other species of mongoose, aardvark, porcupine, dik dik or warthogs spring to mind initially) this could make for a pretty impressive exhibit.

Probably just wishful thinking though…

It could be nice to see aardvark to return to ZSL - I was a bit disappointed to see that even after the renovation of Animal Adventure, they did not return. But in any case, it would be nice to have something other than meerkats, but at least this enclosure is to be perhaps the largest of its kind in the country. I think part of the reason meerkats have gotten rather stale is the impression that any curator and their dog can create an exhibit for the animals - hence a number of 'half-baked' homes for meerkats. And so it's nice to see one that is not like the others!
But the question remains, what will be going into the current meerkat exhibit at Whipsnade when this one is finished for use..?

I tend to agree. Meerkats in themselves make for quite an interesting display and it is more the repetition of seeing them and the usually basic exhibitory that is tiresome.

Since my original comment I’ve read on the forum that Porcupines are planned for this area too (I don’t think ZSL have made that official yet though) so an improvement on just Meerkat.

As for their current enclosure, it’s very small isn’t it. Having given it some thought I think it would be feasible and unique in the UK if it were to house Cape Ground Squirrels, but realistically it would probably be a species of tortoise or something like that.

@dillotest0 It’s worth noting that the current area was never intended for meerkats, but for London’s Serval.

Whipsnade only received meerkat (originally 4 males from London) because of a donation from a wealthy benefactor. This donation was based on the demand that the benefactor had exclusive naming rights to one of the Asian elephant calves (the now long-deceased “Donaldson”) and that their children’s favourite animals were meerkats.

A prime example of “Money Talks” you could say.

@nedpepper I think the old enclosure is being incorporated into the new one