Stirlingshire safari park treats meerkats with leaves

Autumn may signal gloomy weather and cold temperatures to come for many, but for a group of Stirlingshire meerkats it has prompted some fun and games.

Keepers at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling have filled the animals' enclosure with fallen autumn leaves to let them play and dig.

Mealworms have been hidden among the leave to encourage the animals to hunt.

Blair Drummond has about a dozen of the mammals, which are native to the deserts of south western Africa.

Keepers said the animals were clearly excited by the addition to their enclosure.

Park manager Gary Gilmour said: "It helps stimulate their natural digging action and keeps them occupied for hours. They love it."