THE meerkats at West Midland Safari Park love nothing more than being warm – after all their ancestors are native to the hot climes of Southern Africa.

Therefore, Safari Park keepers have to intervene when the British winter takes a turn for the worst. Their mission is to make sure that the meerkats are kept as warm and comfortable as possible, and have found the best solution is to install heat lamps in the specially created abode, known as Meerkat Mayhem.

Once the heat lamps are switched on, it is not long before these curious little animals suss out where the warmth is coming from and huddle up. They will remain in their huddle until warmed through and then make a dash for it – perhaps to dig for grubs, before they return to the lamps to embark for another session of heat lamp worship.

Noel Carey, head of the African Village exhibits, said: “Smaller animals such as meerkats are prone to losing heat more quickly, therefore it is vital that we combat this through increasing the diet by around 25 per cent and providing supplementary heat when the animals are outside.

“Their indoor quarters are also heated to around 20 degrees, so any heat loss suffered in the day can be restored throughout the night.”

West Midland Safari Park is currently open every weekend until February 8, for their Wild Winter season.