Zoo news – November 2024

November was all go in the park as we were busy preparing for the launch of our new Christmas event, Jingle Fest! As Christmas lights were being hung, trees were decorated and the park elves were adding their last touches, the zoo has been a hive of activity! With lots of college students in to do studies, health checks on our meerkats and the annual zoo inspection, our zoo team had a very busy month.

Student groups: The Discovery and Learning (D&L) team were busy with Education groups

Conservation, Education, and Research are the main pillars of modern-day zoos. Having a team that is dedicated to public engagement and education is essential to sharing our knowledge and passion of the natural world.

Each year the D&L team welcome hundreds of students to carry out formal education packages in our zoo, teaching them different modules relating to conservation and research. In November, the Discovery and Learning team welcomed lots of third level students to carry out education packages while the park was closed.

During their visit the students got an exclusive look through the zoo, carried out numerous educational workshops and met with the zookeeping team.

Zookeeper Katie showing students target training with Quessant sheep, Mildred

Amur leopard, Sergi, showing off his training with Zookeepers Anthony and Rob

Meet our Meerkats: Helping Grayson, Jayson, Blue, Damien & Wayne Stay Happy and Healthy!

At Emerald Park Zoo, we’re committed to the health and wellbeing of all our animals, including our adorable meerkats – Grayson, Jayson, Blue, Damien, and Wayne. These curious little creatures love to stand tall on their hind legs, always keeping an eye on their surroundings. Recently, our meerkats had their regular health check-up with one of our trusted vets, who carried out a full evaluation to make sure they’re in the best possible health. We’re proactive about addressing any health issues, such as Damien’s bone malformation, which causes him to limp.

While human snacks are tempting to them, they can upset a meerkat’s sensitive metabolism and lead to health problems. That’s why our expert zookeepers provide them with a carefully tailored, nutritious diet. Grayson, Jayson, Blue, Damien, and Wayne are fed several times a day, so guests can often see them enjoying their meals. We kindly ask that you resist the urge to share your snacks – because when it comes to our meerkats, the only “treat” they need is their special diet! Thank you for your support!

Thanks for reading. Check back next month for more zoo updates!

The Emerald Park Zoo Team