Expanding family leads to Meerkat madness at Trotters World of Animals

It’s set to be Meerkat madness at Trotters World of Animals this half term, when the park launches ‘Meet the Meerkats’. The ever expanding Meerkat family needed room to grow, so the park has worked hard during the winter to enlarge their enclosure and prepare it for this exciting new visitor experience.

In anticipation of ‘Meet the Meerkats’, half term visitors can enjoy a Meerkat quiz trail, take part in craft activities, see the Meerkats in their new home and learn more about them from the keepers. It will also be their first chance to pre-book a ‘Meet the Meerkats’ experience.

Proud Meerkat parents Dave and Judy have been breeding since they were first introduced to each other in 2010 and they have had several litters of pups. Today there are 14 members of the ‘mob’ who are very inquisitive and very spritely. Now well established, the family are set to meet their public in a very up close and personal way.

Richard Robinson, Park Manager said “The Meerkats are a firm favourite with families visiting the park and they are fun to watch. They are quick, curious and guests will watch them for hours. We knew they were outgrowing their current home so we took the opportunity to create a larger area that would give us enough space to let our guests meet them ‘in person’. That’s why we are creating the ‘Meet the Meerkats’ experience. They are excitable, but their nosy nature means they do come and say hello. At the moment this experience is only for adults, but once established, we hope to let children enjoy the experience too. ”

The pre-bookable hour long session with the Meerkats includes a chance to talk to the keepers, learning how Meerkats eat and live in the wild. Guests then get chance to ‘Meet the Meerkats’ while their friends and family watch on from outside. Richard said “Last year we had so many people asking for the chance to interact with them, so we are delighted that we can now say yes. We are the only zoo in the Lake District that gives you this rare opportunity.”

Meerkats have always been a favourite in zoos, but they have certainly become more fashionable since documentaries like Meerkat Manor which filmed them in their natural Kalahari Desert habitat and with the infamous insurance company TV ads.

Meet the Meerkats is the third visitor “experience” that Trotters World of Animals has introduced. Last Christmas the demand for vouchers for Lemur Encounters and Hawk Walks more than doubled and the park anticipates this new ‘Meet the Meerkats’ experience will be even more popular.

Extending their range of experiences even further, the park is planning to introduce a Junior Keeper experience in time for Easter. You can find out more about the park at www.trottersworld.com  or call 017687 76239.