Rescue after two stray meerkats discovered on road

An animal welfare charity is looking for mystery owners of the exotic animals after they were found in Dundee.

15th Mar 2021

An appeal has been launched after two stray meerkats were rescued from a road in Dundee.

An animal welfare charity is looking for the mystery owners of the exotic animals after they were found on they city’s South Road on March 12 and 13.

Rescuers described the discovery as “very unusual” as a nearby wildlife park said their meerkats were all accounted for.

Scottish SPCA senior animal rescue officer Ben Soutar said, “The first meerkat was found on March 12 and the second a day later in the same location.

“It was certainly a very unusual rescue; I’ve never been called to rescue a meerkat before!

“We checked with Camperdown Wildlife Park but all their meerkats were accounted for, so it’s a bit of a mystery as to where these two have come from.

“Both animals appeared quite tame, although they weren’t too happy about being picked up! Due to how comfortable they are around humans it’s possible they have been kept as pets at some point.

“As with all exotic wild animals, we wouldn’t recommend people keep animals like meerkats as pets as they have specialist needs that would be very hard for the average member of the public to replicate in a home environment.

“Both animals are now safe in the care of Camperdown Wildlife Park while we try to determine how they came to be in this situation. If anyone recognises these meerkats we’d ask that they call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”