Meerkat family killed after tunnel collapses in heavy rain at wildlife park

Popular meerkats have died at a Leicestershire wildlife attraction after a tunnel collapsed on the animals.

The meerkats living at Tropical Birdland in Desford became trapped under mud and rubble when the tunnel caved in on them.

Led by the matriarch called Big Mama, the mob had been busy digging for a new underground chamber, the family zoo said.

The mob were ‘very well practised’ in digging tunnels under the watchful eye of Big Mama, herself an ‘experienced mother.’

But a tragedy struck this week when the ground collapsed on the unsuspecting animals, burying them underground.

Only one of the meerkats was pulled out alive, while the rest of the mob had been killed.

The zoo pinned the collapse on the sudden torrential rain after the scorching heatwaves, which had compromised the structure.

Tropical Birdland said on social media: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we announce the news of the passing of our beloved Meerkats.

‘Most of last week our matriarch ‘Big Mama’ had her mob digging out and preparing a fresh chamber underground, ready for the arrival of her next litter of pups. Big Mama was an experienced mother, having several litters over the years, and her mob were very well practiced in digging tunnels and chambers.

‘After an unusually long heatwave, the ground was ideal for digging.

‘In an unexpected and catastrophic turn of events, the sudden heavy rainfall after such a long hot dry spell compromised the structure of the tunnels causing them to collapse.

‘Staff were able to locate where the Meerkats were underground and were able to rescue one member of the mob, but were heartbroken to find the rest of the group had passed away.’

The remaining meerkat is regularly spending time with the zoo team to ‘comfort and monitor closely,’ the park said.

Fans and visitors reacted to the news of the meerkats’ fate, with many expressing concern for the sole survivor.

One woman said: ‘We visited yesterday and did wonder why there was only one meerkat. I hope the survivor continues to do well and sorry to learn of the sad news. We loved our visit yesterday- such a unique place!’

Another one asked: ‘This is utterly devastating and must be so distressing for the sole survivor. I don’t know how the packs work or how they are established but are you able to reach out to another park to get a friend for him/her?’

Meerkats, which belong to the mongoose family of species, are known for their distinct upright stance as they spot lurking predators.

The animals are heavily reliant on the group for protection, food sourcing and mental and physical health, and lone meerkats can become anxious and stressed.

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