Cute Meerkat Seeks Buddies
In some ways, watching Meerkat Manor, Animal Planet’s wildly popular documentary series about a pack of furry little mongoose critters roaming Africa’s Kalahari Desert, is not too far off from subjecting oneself to an exercise in mild psychological torture. The meerkats, complete with their own names, personalities and storylines, are so cute and adorable and OMG don’t you just want to take them home as pets?! But then the next thing you know they go and do something like heartlessly abandon a member of their pack or eat their companions’ young. Those horrible meerkats!
Nevertheless, we couldn’t help but choke up a little when we read this story in the L.A. Times today about Chico, one of the African meerkats’ cousins, who lives in the Los Angeles Zoo. Thanks to the success of the TV show, real-life everyday meerkats like Chico have become quite the celebrities in zoos across the country. But poor little Chico—he’s all alone!
Whether that is a tolerable state of affairs is being debated by zoo officials and animal activists whose support and affection for the small mammal has been fueled by cable television's popular “Meerkat Manor.”
As on the Animal Planet series, the meerkat is a highly social creature. The furry mammals forage together, serve as guards and baby sitters for each other, and even strategize about war tactics. And meerkats who violate clan rules suffer a most dire fate -- banishment.
"Kids ask, 'Where are his friends? He needs to have friends.' It's very sad," said Janelle Fisher of Sierra Madre, leader of the Chico Project, which has focused on the lone meerkat since his burrow mate died in January.
Chico’s advocates have started a Web petition “to persuade zoo officials either to get a few roommates for Chico or transfer him to another zoo, where he can make new friends.”
If only it were that simple! While meerkats can be warm and cuddly, they can also be aggressive and territorial. And it gets worse. Since Chico, who is 9, has “age-related arthritis and teeth problems,” he might not be able to defend himself if the other meerkats pick on him, a zoo official told the Times.
In the meantime, a spokesman for the zoo said that Chico is content: “He's not depressed. He's a healthy animal.”
We're routing for you, Chico! Just don't eat your new pals.
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Thank you for helping to give exposure to Chico's story. The LA Zoo is lying. Chico is not aggressive; nor would introducing him to one or two new kats be dangerous. More that that, maybe, but not up to too. We just want Chico to be healthy & happy. When a meerkat is alone, its cortisol (a stress hormone) levels rise to an imbalance. Plus Chico is overweight because he mostly eats carb-based kibble. The zoo claims that they give him protein too, but I have personally watched the keeper throw a bunch of mealworms in to Chico's enclosure, while Chico laid there lazily as birds swooped in and ate all of Chico's worms. But after trying to take his story to anyone who would listen, the media has now accepted the telling of his story... Just google Chico and Meerkat. Chico's time has now come... This is a glorious beginning to his solution.
thanks for bringng chico's story to your readers. meerkats need companions to survive. they groom each other, play, keep lookout for invaders and even huddle together for warmth and security. Chico needs to be returned to his family or given the opportunity to meet new companions. I do not think he will be upset to have new mob members. he needs to be given medicine for his arthritus and geniune meerkat food that the birds will not be able to get...crickets, fishing worms, beetles, meal worms and even mice.
Chico's story is not just about one meerkat. It is about the indifference of the L.A. Zoo, not just to the animal, but to the public. The zoo was the first to call a legitimate association interested in helping enhance and improve the lives of meerkats in captivity through fundraising and hands on work (google Staten Island Zoo and meerkats), a bunch of "animal activists". So be it - I and my fellow members of the Meerkat Society (formerly The East Coast Meerkat Society) are working to be strong advocates and give a voice to not just these animals, but to the public that is appalled to see poor Chico stressed and unhealthy. It was one of our California members who realized that Chico's companion, Spanky was dying or already dead in the enclosure and notified zoo personnel.
One of the biggest issues here is the zoo's attitude towards anyone who has attempted to solicite any information. We have recieved responses from Jason the "Meerkat P.R." man that have ranged from avoidance to outright ridiculous. Docents and other personnel tell of meetings that zoo management denies ever happen. Since Spanky died we have been told everything from "We are working on getting Chico some burrowmates" to "We are just waiting for something to happen to him, so we can get a new bunch".
This zoo is violating the public trust. I do not want to patronize any venue that does not hold the animals safety and well being as the highest of priorities. Zoo's are accountable to the public, and if they do all of this regarding one of the smallest creatures, what is happening with any of the animals?
This meerkat is indeed being fed carb packed kibble - our members have documented it. It has nothing with which to enrich it's life in the exhibit. It sleeps in a burrow without the companions they depend on for body warmth. He is an older meerkat - yes, his days are numbered. That doesn't mean he should be overlooked, or treated with indifference until he kicks the bucket and makes way for new mob.
The L.A. Zoo put him there for the public to see and learn about. He had no choice in the matter. But the public does: we can choose to not stand by or condone this treatment for Chico or any other animal. The Staten Island Zoo set a high standard; let the L.A. Zoo live up to it.
I don't think its concern for whether or not Chico will hurt new members if they were introduced.
The real fear is he will be harmed. If anyone has looked in on Chico he is a very good lookout, but his defenses aren't great at best. If introduced to a stable community, there is a chance (a chance, whether slight or great) that he could be harmed - even killed. I'm pretty sure the keepers at the LA Zoo would rather see him by himself at this point then dead.
We should all remember that all zoos and most of their employees genuinely care about the animals that exist in their facilities. Nobody grows up to be a zookeeper to "violate the public trust" by "lying" about the welfare and care of the animals. They become zookeepers to care for the animals to the best of their abilities. Their reasons for loving animals are most likely very similar to ours as animal rights activists. They don't hate animals, and I'm pretty sure they don't hate Chico.
WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!