A new meerkat exhibit is to be built at Bristol Zoo, scheduled to open next spring. The new enclosure will form part of wider plans to refresh and renew the southern part of the Zoo. The plans include improvements to the children’s play area, a bridge with a hide and viewing platforms over the Zoo’s lake, and the creation of a secret garden with a Japanese fernery. The Zoo has this week submitted a formal planning application to Bristol City Council for consideration of the £500,000 plans. If planning permission is granted, work on the revamp of the southern area of the Zoo is set to begin this winter. New meerkat manor planned for Bristol Zoo Gardens | Bristol Zoo
Meerkats, really? The plans sound good, and I think the zoo is going in the right direction. But why Meerkats? Such a common species for a wonderful, small zoo, that should be using its limited space for rare and endangered species. Also, £500,000 seems quite alot... Especially seeing the amount of funding Bristol will need for the NWCP. What are others opinions? EDIT: Just realised that Bristol already have Meerkats. Sorry for the confusion. Although, their enclosures sees perfectly fine.
For me personally this news isn't that great. I thought their meerkat exhibit was fine, having just seen Shaldons (which takes up about a quarter of the zoo) i don't think a new Meerkat exhibit is what Bristol needs. The Praire dogs/Marmot enclosure, though impressive, is for a zoo Bristols size a waste. They have an enclosure about the same size as the Tapirs. I love Bristol, for me, for the size it's probably Britains best zoo, (Well at least out of the ones i've been too.) I personally have never seen anyone staying long at either the meerkat or praire dog enclosure.
The work on the meerkat enclosure has begun the old enclosure is now a pile of rubble! The meerkats are now on display in the twilight zone in the yellow mongoose enclosure and the yellow mongoose are currently off show until the new meerkat enclosure is finished.
Yes, i noticed this the other day. Makes sense to have the mongooses (is that a word?)off show, because in all the times i've visited Bristol, i have only seen them once.
Also makes sense as there are only two mongooses and 13 meerkats! Though I have never had a problem seeing the mongooses. I even managed to spot all 3 Aye Ayes today.
The prairie dog exhibit used to be a mixed exhibit for alpaca, prairie dogs, mara, and Macaroni penguins! I guess there is the potential to mix aardvarks, mongoose or bat-eared foxes in with the meerkats in the new exhibit, as has happened elsewhere in the UK. I would be surprised if their market research didn't come up with a strong desire for more interactive exhibits for children, and I'm sure even a meerkat enclosure will pay dividends if it has the right interp and viewing.
