It is a single-sex group with no plans to become a breeding group in the future. Halls Gap have the somewhat admirable policy that as they are a small zoo with limited resources, they wish to focus their participation in ASMPs as a breeding site to endangered species only and primarily endangered species.
It is in fact an excellent exhibit - as I said this does not show all of it. There is another lookout position out of shot, and I particularly like that there are three different types of substrate (gravel, sand and soil/bark/leaf litter) throughout the exhibit. There is also an above-ground heat lamp that encourages the meerkats to come out of their burrow even on the many cool days that Halls Gap has.
Halls Gap have the somewhat admirable policy ... to focus their participation in ASMPs as a breeding site to endangered species only and primarily endangered species.
The above should read "and primarily native endangered species" - thanks Hix for quoting before I noticed!
This was told to me by a keeper. I guess I should qualify that I'm not sure if it's a strict policy or more of a general approach, but quite good either way.
