Assessing Enclosure Modifications to Enhance Accessibility for Zoo-Housed Meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

Adding low-level logs and steps to a zoo enclosure for four adult Suricata suricatta increased sentry behavior, with all individuals engaging versus only one at baseline.

• Why it matters: As zoo animals live longer and some have disabilities, there is limited empirical evidence on whether accessibility-focused enclosure changes preserve species-appropriate behavior.
• What they did: In a case study of four adult meerkats (including one forelimb-amputated and one geriatric), researchers introduced intermediate-height access features and compared behavior across baseline and post-modification phases.
• The result: After modification, overall use of low-elevated areas increased and tri/quadrupedal postures became more frequent, suggesting simple accessibility changes can broaden opportunities for geriatric and disabled individuals to perform relevant behaviors.

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