Notes on Enrichment

 Social creatures- need to be kept together
o At least 2
o Maximum of 30
 Insect eaters- Feed insects
 Anatomy
o Tail
 Identification
 Balance
 Warning
 Snake mobbing- Makes snake think it’s the head of meerkat
 Desert animals
o Sandy environment
 350/2 animals + 25%/1 additional
 Deep areas for burrowing and tunneling- around 2 ft deep (wild may be 7ft)
 Cement or coated wire mesh foundation
o Shaded Areas
 Prey animals
o Hiding areas
o Lookout posts
 Trees
 Rocks
 Different levels
 Visual stimulation
o Environment Exterior
 Mirrors
 Disco ball
 Pinwheels
 Stickers
o Environment Interior
 Lookout posts- Connected to Prey behaviour and curiosity
 Nearby pathways for mental stimulation
 Olfactory Stimulation
o Other animals
o Herbs- parsley, coriander, catnip
o Colognes sprayed on objects
o Provide scented items in well ventilated areas
 Piñata- Visual, Nutritional, Olfactory, Curiosity
o Insects
o Straw
o Cat food
 Mental Stimulation
o Training/Conditioning for medical procedures/ transport/ handling

 RABIES CARRIERS- but only 10 cases of rabid meerkats attacking humans between ‘97-‘07
 Tuberculosis- Grooming and aggressive behaviours helped spread disease
 Pest controllers- eat insects, help agriculture
 Adapt well to captive settings