Perth Zoo’s much-loved slender-tailed meerkats are set to get a new home, with plans underway for new and improved habitat that will bring visitors closer than ever before to one of the Zoo’s most popular animals.
 

Announced as Perth Zoo celebrates World Meerkat Day, the exciting project will create a bigger, more immersive experience for both meerkats and Zoo visitors, featuring innovative viewing opportunities that allow guests to step into the meerkats’ world.

The project is currently in the design phase, with the new habitat expected to open in time for Christmas 2027.
 
The project has been made possible through the generous support of the Charlebois family, whose contribution reflects a shared commitment to the community impact Perth Zoo delivers through conservation, education and meaningful experiences with wildlife.

Meerkats consistently rank among Perth Zoo's top three most-loved species, making the redevelopment a highly anticipated addition for visitors.

The new habitat is being designed with a strong focus on both animal welfare and guest experience.



Plans include expanded space for the meerkat mob, new areas that encourage natural behaviours such as digging, climbing, foraging and sunbathing, as well as immersive experiences that allow visitors to observe the animals from entirely new perspectives.
 
Highlights of the design include:

  • A safari-style jeep lookout where visitors can sit ‘within’ the habitat and enjoy close-up views of the meerkats.
  • An immersive pop-up viewing dome connected by tunnels, allowing guests the opportunity to crawl inside the meerkats' world.
  • New nature play elements and seating areas designed to encourage longer stays and shared family experiences.
  • Improved viewing opportunities, including eye-level interactions and enhanced accessibility for all guests.
 
Perth Zoo’s Executive Director, David Van Ooran, said the project would create an exciting new destination for generations of visitors.

"Meerkats are one of Perth Zoo's most popular animals, capturing the hearts of visitors with their curiosity, personality and strong family bonds. We're focused on designing the very best habitat for both our animals and our visitors. The new experience will create opportunities for people to connect with meerkats in completely new ways, while providing an engaging, enriching environment for the mob to thrive."
 
"We're incredibly grateful to the Charlebois family for helping make this project possible. Their generosity will help create a lasting experience for the community and a wonderful Christmas gift for Perth families when the habitat opens in 2027."
 
To mark World Meerkat Day, Perth Zoo's meerkat mob celebrated with a giant cardboard castle filled with their favourite treats.

Created by Perth Zoo's animal care team and volunteers, the multi-level enrichment activity encouraged the curious clan to explore, forage and investigate every nook and cranny, stimulating natural behaviours they would use in the wild.
 
While famed for standing guard and protecting their mob, wild meerkats face growing threats from the illegal wildlife trade.

Perth Zoo encourages animal lovers to help protect wildlife by avoiding and reporting social media content that promotes inappropriate interactions with wild animals.
 
Fast Facts
  • Meerkats consistently rank among Perth Zoo's top three most popular animal species.
  • In the wild, meerkat mobs can contain up to 50 members.
  • The average meerkat weighs less than one kilogram and measures around 30 centimetres long.
  • Meerkats are omnivores, feeding on insects, small animals, eggs, roots and fruit. At Perth Zoo, one of their favourite snacks is live cockroaches.
  • Perth Zoo is home to seven meerkats across two family groups.