Meerkat mob join in community conservation campaign milestone

More than 200,000 people have now pledged their commitment to switch to blowing bubbles instead of using balloons at outdoor celebrations, as part of the When Balloons Fly, Seabirds Die community conservation campaign aimed at protecting precious marine wildlife.  

The milestone was this week marked with Werribee Zoo’s meerkats inquisitively exploring and popping bubbles and playfully burrowing through sandcastles.

When used outdoors, balloons and their attachments can find their way into oceans and waterways, potentially harming wildlife. A 2019 study by CSIRO attributed balloons as being the deadliest marine debris item to seabirds. 

Werribee Zoo keeper Tamsyn Green said the bubble enrichment for the Zoo's animals has a dual purpose: to educate visitors about wildlife-friendly alternatives to balloons, while helping to mentally and physically enrich the inquisitive mammals.

“The sandcastles and bubbles introduce unfamiliar structures and sensory elements to the meerkats’ habitat,” said Ms Green. “This encourages their natural wild behaviours and provides important mental and physical stimulation.  

“The meerkat mob demonstrate their foraging and burrowing behaviours while exploring the sandcastles, and stretch up in their sentry posture to engage with the bubbles as they pass.”