I read in another thread that they were umbrellas and they're shaped like that so that the rain runs into the middle and not into the exhibit.
Nice looking meerkat exhibit, and like Mstickmanp said about this exhibit, I would also say that this is probably one of the biggest meerkat exhibits I have seen also. The funnels are a first for me also
This exhibit is small compared to the whole of the Meerkat complex at West Midlands Safari Park,but then I have the advantage as I have seen both exhibits in real life and not just in a picture!