Animals in zoos should be provided with proper environmental conditions, similar to
their natural environment, and should be free of stress stimuli. In meerkats (Suricata suri-
catta) kept in zoo conditions, aggressive behavior occurs most often at the feeding time,
which is the main behavioral problem to solve. One of the possibilities used to improve the
well-being of animals kept in zoos are environmental enrichments.
The aim of the study was to use selected environmental enrichments in a meerkat’s run
to eliminate aggressive behaviors between individuals at the feeding time. Two types of
environmental enrichments were provided: related and non-related to feeding (6 enrich-
ments in total). The observed animals were interested especially in enrichments related to
feeding (hidden insect larvae), which is consistent with the natural behaviors of meerkats,
as they actively search for food in soil, grass, and under rocks. A noticeable effect was also
the calmer behavior of the animals in the second part of the day. Active search for food is
a very good way to produce mental fatigue in animals; it provides not only food but also
many other stimuli. This type of enrichment should be included in the typical conditions for
maintaining this species in the zoo.