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5 meerkats destroyed at Minnesota Zoo after child bitten
Associated Press
APPLE VALLEY, Minn. - Five meerkats at the Minnesota Zoo were destroyed and tested for rabies after a girl was bitten when she reached into the animals' exhibit.
The two adult meerkats and their three offspring had been vaccinated for rabies. But the state Department of Health ordered them killed and tested because the girl's parents didn't want her to have to undergo rabies shots if they weren't necessary.
"It's unfortunate," said zoo collections manager Tony Fisher. "But we understand we have to do that. We want to make sure that people are safe."
He said there was little to no chance that any of the animals carried the disease, but the zoo had to destroy them all because it couldn't determine which one bit the girl.
Meerkats are a relative of the mongoose and are native to the African desert. They have been on display at the zoo for about four years. The animals are popular in zoos because they are curious and bold - but they are not tame.
"We handle them with thick leather gloves," Fisher said. "They're not pets."
The 9-year-old girl had climbed atop rock outcropping on Wednesday and reached over a glass barrier when she was bitten. The girl and her parents were not identified.
The exhibit is now closed while zoo workers lower the outcropping so other children won't be able to reach into the exhibit. A second group of meerkats will be moved into the outdoor exhibit from an indoor one once the modifications are finished.
"People want to have contact with these animals when they shouldn't," Fisher said. "It's just not safe. Don't try to push the barriers and touch the animals because it's the animal that ultimately suffers."
Am I just heartless here or is it wrong that 5 animals were killed because these parents didn't pay attention to their child and then didn't want their child to suffer by taking rabies shots?
Am I just heartless here or is it wrong that 5 animals were killed because these parents didn't pay attention to their child and then didn't want their child to suffer by taking rabies shots?
I agree. This was just wrong. It's not the animals fault.
i agree 100% - first the parents should be reprimanded for not watching their kid and putting her in danger by allowing her to stick her hand in the exhibit - next, aside from the pain of the bite the girl should get the shots - the consequence for her actions
It just goes back to the fact that people refuse to accept the consequences for their own actions. Kids will be kids. You have to watch them at all times, not just when it's convienent.
However, I do agree with the zoo that these animals needed to be destroyed for testing rather than putting the little girl through painful shots. Humans have to come before animals---always.
However, I do agree with the zoo that these animals needed to be destroyed for testing rather than putting the little girl through painful shots. Humans have to come before animals---always.
That must be one hell of a test. Can't they test for rabies without killing them?
It just goes back to the fact that people refuse to accept the consequences for their own actions. Kids will be kids. You have to watch them at all times, not just when it's convienent.
However, I do agree with the zoo that these animals needed to be destroyed for testing rather than putting the little girl through painful shots. Humans have to come before animals---always.
According to the CDC site the days of a series of shots in teh stomach for rabies are gone. They now give one painful shot near the bite wound, and then a series of 5 shots in the arm after that.
FYI a friend who lives in Minnesota said the girl had to climb up over a glass partition and then reach down to get to the meerkats, seems they weren't too concerned about her health when she was doing that.
If she were my child she'd have gotten shots, written a letter of apology to the zoo, and it'd be a great learning experience. I'd also make sure she knew that by choosing to take the shots she helped prevent the needless killing of 5 innocent meerkats, at least that might boost her self esteem a bit.
If she were my child she'd have gotten shots, written a letter of apology to the zoo, and it'd be a great learning experience. I'd also make sure she knew that by choosing to take the shots she helped prevent the needless killing of 5 innocent meerkats, at least that might boost her self esteem a bit.
If a 9-year-old kid can reach into the display then the zoo is at fault for not securing the exhibit IMO. I don't think the parents should be responsible for the animals.
I have two daughters myself and it's impossible to watch them every minute, especially a 9-year-old. At that age they are usually independent enough to run around on their own a lot of the time.
That being said, I'd have made the girl have the shots, unless they would be too painful or if there was a possibility that the shots might make her sick etc.
the pain and/or sickness would be temporary - but it would create a great lesson about respecting perimeters
btw - this is a meerkat
it's not like they need some super enclosed area that is 100% sealed off - they aren't going to fly away - the MN zoo is kind of open and airy - the kid climbed up the rocks and then got too close to the animals over the glass
If I jumped into the bear exhibits (which are also open air) it would be my own fault - if humans do the right thing, there is no need to keep all the animals in a hannibal lecter type cell
If she were my child she'd have gotten shots, written a letter of apology to the zoo, and it'd be a great learning experience. I'd also make sure she knew that by choosing to take the shots she helped prevent the needless killing of 5 innocent meerkats, at least that might boost her self esteem a bit.
Great post.
What the heck were this girl's parents doing when she climbed the rock and reached over the glass barrier? People really suck.
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