Maidstone: Larger meerkat enclosure opened for growing family at Kent Life
Published: 01:23, 27 May 2018
Updated: 08:25, 27 May 2018
It's hard thinking of half term activities - but when you have two meerkat pups to entertain, it can be extra tricky.
Luckily for Kent Life's proud meerkat parents Shiloh and Jessie, site managers have built them an extra large enclosure just in time for the school holidays.
The farming attraction in Lock Lane, Sandling, near Maidstone, opened its new, expanded enclosure for the growing family this week after the pair had babies last year.
It was a tense moment when the small tunnel between the old enclosure and their new space - which is double the size - was opened.
But within minutes the four - dad Shiloh, mum Jessie and babies Fuggles and Goldie - were scurrying through to explore their new home. Dad Shiloh, however, was slightly reluctant to swap his old vantage point on top of an old tree stump for his new, slightly higher one.
It had taken a few weeks for staff at the attraction to build the extended enclosure, which was needed after Shiloh and Jessie's litter of two had arrived in September.
Mollie King from Kent Life said: "We are hoping this new enclosure will allow them to have more babies. It gives them more space to run around and dig. They now have an indoor home and a larger outdoor area. We have the viewing windows so visitors will still be able to see them when it's raining.
"It was a big build for us. We weren't 100% sure how they would react. With meerkats it's a 50/50 chance of what's going to happen - luckily the good outcome happened."
The newly-opened enclosure heralds a big change for Shiloh, who was the first meerkat to move in back in 2016, before managers found him mate Jessie and the pair had their pups.
Fuggles and Goldie were named after hops grown on the site, which has a strong hop farming heritage.
Managers are also looking for a local sponsor for the meerkat enclosure. If your business is interested, contact Mollie at Kent Life on 01622 763936. For opening times and costs visit kentlife.org.uk
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Angela Cole