The “Meerkat Family” has arrived in Leofoo Resort Guanshi! Come and see these “desert elves” who love to hug each other . Here at Leofoo Resort Guanshi, we have designed an ecological demonstration field within the island according to habits of meerkats. With a combination of educational purpose and fun, we have designed an “observation experience with meerkats”, the first of its kind in Taiwan. Room guests can see how meerkats feed themselves through virtual reality program; in addition, guests can join the meerkat training to get an intimate look at them. The entire program is designed with a simulation of what conservationists do, allowing guests to have more lively and varied approaches to observing animals.

Since the original habitat where they came from, South Africa, has a desert climate, with great temperature difference between day and night, the whole family of meerkats would gather around, hug each other, and comb each other’s hairs every day when they get up or go to sleep inside the tunnel at dusk. All family members like to encourage each other, take care of and protect each other. It would be no surprise that they are called the animals in the world who like hugs the most. Some meerkats would stand at high grounds and act as sentinels while other meerkats forage for food or play around. Once predators are spotted, the sentinels would call out alarmingly, prompting other family members to scurry back to their burrows for safety.

★Facts about meerkat:
◎Scientific name:：Suricata  suricatta
◎English name: Meerkat
◎Distribution:Kalahari Desert, South Africa
◎Characteristics:
Smallsized nocturnal animals with black patches around the eyes, which act like sunglasses, allowing meerkats to see clearly under the bright sun as well as looking directly at the sun. Their tails are thin and long, allowing them to stand on their feet and maintain balance when they run fast. The tail end is black. The black small, crescentshaped ears can be closed when meerkats dig burrows so that dirt do not get into their ears.
◎Body size:
On average, a male meerkat weighs about 731 grams while a female weighs 720 grams. The body length is between 25 to 35 cm, and tail length between 17 to 25 cm.
◎Food:
They mostly feed on insects. Scorpions are their favorite, but meerkats also eat crickets, cockroaches, lizards, snakes, spiders, plants, eggs, and small mammals. Since they do not store fats inside their bodies, they must actively hunt for food every day in order to maintain their energy.

Number of sessions: Two sessions daily (11:15 ,15:15)
Session duration: about 30 minutes
Guest limit: 8 people per session
Age limit: 5 years old or over recommended

Content of experience:
(1) In stage 1, guests will be introduced to the “meerkat conservation knowledge” and animal characteristics. Guests will know what meerkats love to eat the most, and why they often stand guard as sentinels. Come and learn about the cute little desert elves.

(2) Next, guests will be led into the home of meerkats. Guests will need to change for rain boots and wear face masks while paying attention to the rules of entering animal ground. As soon as guests enter the meerkat habitat, our professional guides will lecture the guests on the environment and explain the feeding behaviors of meerkats. Then, guests will get a closeup look at meerkats’ weighing training on wooden scales, and help make the “food balls” that enhance meerkats’ behavior diversification, and then observe how these creatures feed.
　
Price: NT$899 per person