From next week, zoo-goers will once again be able to get up close and personal with a mischievous meerkat mob.
Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor, Cherie Rutherford, said the highly anticipated meerkat encounters will relaunch next week, with tickets available for purchase from Monday.
“We are incredibly excited to announce that the six new meerkats have settled into their enclosure well and are now ready to make their public debut,” Cr Rutherford said.
“I know that this is going to be welcome news to so many, as we’ve had a stack of queries both from visitors at the zoo and via social media about when the encounters would recommence.
“As of Monday, visitors will be able to book their very own meerkat experience which will offer the amazing opportunity to be inside the enclosure for around 20 minutes.
“During this time you’ll be able to sit with them, see how they interact with one another and visitors, and learn all about them from our incredibly knowledgeable keepers.”
The meerkat mob is a family made up of a father and his five sons.
The father is Maputo, who is eight years old, and his sons – Lwazi, Moagi, Savuti, Ntsumi and Nzima – range between five and three years of age.
Cr Rutherford said the encounters are sure to be entertaining, with the males proving even more mischievous than their predecessors.
“Our beautiful girls were hugely popular with the public and so many people treasured their encounters and seeing firsthand how cheeky and amusing meerkats can be,” Cr Rutherford said.
“I can promise that the boys will be just as, if not even cheekier – they’re proving very energetic, have gone crazy for digging since they arrived, and don’t seem very shy at all.
“It’s going to be fantastic and I’m so delighted that we can offer this to the public once more.”
The meerkat experience is one of two encounters offered at Rockhampton Zoo – with the other being with the resident chimpanzee troop.
Tickets will be available from Monday, at
The Rockhampton Zoo is owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council.
