Christmas came early for the cheeky meerkats at Longleat Safari Park as they had a playful encounter with a Santa hat – with one even vanishing inside it!
The Wiltshire estate’s keepers are known for their creative enrichment activities, and the festive season offers the perfect opportunity to introduce some holiday-themed fun for the park’s residents.
The meerkats wasted no time uncovering the food hidden in the hat, resulting in some delightful moments captured by photographer Tom Anders.
James Dennis, Lead Keeper at Longleat, said: “They really enjoyed it, as you can see in the pictures. Meerkats are incredibly intelligent animals, and it didn’t take them long to figure out there was food inside!
“The two stars in the photos, standing tall in the hat, are Cassie, the mother of the mob, and Harley, the current alpha female. Moana also joined in on the fun,” he added.
Meerkats, though classified as a species of least concern, face different challenges in the wild. Typically, they live three to six years in their natural habitat, but in human care, such as at Longleat, their lifespan can extend up to 15 years.
This playful festive interaction is part of Longleat’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the mental and physical stimulation of its animals through enrichment, making each day engaging for its residents.
