Hot Fuzz! Meerkats huddle for heat
Meerkats at West Midland Safari Park love nothing more than being warm — after all, the ancestors of these fuzzy little creatures are native to the hot climes of Southern Africa.
So Safari Park keepers have to intervene when the British winter takes a turn for the worse.
Enter specialist heat lamps, which are now the centre of attention at the home of the animals, known as Meerkat Mayhem.
Once the heat lamps are switched on, it is not long before these curious little animals suss out where the warmth is coming from and huddle up.
They will remain in their huddle until warmed through and then make a dash for it — perhaps to engage in a spot of foraging or digging for grubs, before they return to the lamps for another session of heat lamp worship.
Noel Carey, head of the African Village exhibits at the park, near Bridgnorth, said: "Smaller animals such as meerkats are prone to losing heat more quickly, therefore it is vital that we combat this through increasing the diet by around 25 per cent and providing supplementary heat when the animals are outside."
"Their indoor quarters are also heated to around 20ºC, so any heat loss suffered during the day can be restored throughout the night".
The Park has a total of 25 meerkats, including two youngsters, which live in small groups in the African Village.
