Dudley College students treated DZG’s meerkat mob to an exciting handmade enrichment box after taking part in a Discovery Centre education session.
Led by Presenter Becky Iwahashi, the 21 students spent two hours discovering about a variety of animal behaviours, before they got to work designing an enrichment device for the zoo’s meerkats.
Armed with cardboard boxes, newspaper and mealworms the meerkats’ favourite treats – the group constructed the toy before throwing it into the Tecton enclosure, where they watched the mob quickly delve in for the treats.
Becky said: “The session went well and the students really enjoyed making the enrichment toy and then watching it being used.
“The meerkats attacked it as soon as we put it in which was not only great for them, as it was a different way for them to get their food, but it was brilliant for the group to see in action as well.”