yes they do. Originally from Telecom adverts on tv (these were the sole reason the species was imported into NZ in the first instance), and more recently from The Lion King. I think their popularity in the UK is greater because you have those "Simples" adverts I've heard about but don't want to search out and watch (!), but the general appeal is still there.
I think they're either present or planned at every significant exotics collection outside of Qld, where they're currently not permitted to be kept for reasons that escape all of us. They're a true ABC animal.
Yes 'simples' is the Insurance adverts I mentioned above. Afaik the first time Meerkats were exposed to a wider public audience, apart from in one or two small 'unknown' zoo exhibits, was a T.V. wildlife documentary called 'Meerkats United' which was made several decades ago now. This was followed by at least one other similar one. Then later there was Lion King and the american-made 'Meerkat Manor' T.V. series- (made on the back of their popularity and one of the most long-winded, repetitious and poor quality 'wildlife' series I've come across) and finally the longrunning 'ComparetheMarket.com' Insurance ads. Each of these 'exposees' seems to have created fresh popularity for Meerkats with subsequent generations.
64 dibblers bred at Perth were released into Waychinicup National Park on 5 October. Perth has bred 640 dibblers since 1998.
Recently two echidnas have been born to females who were themselves born at Perth zoo. This is the first second generation breeding anywhere, and was also surprising as the mothers are only four years old, and they were previously thought not to mature until at least five.
