by Jessica Allen
Thisweek Newspapers

In week's time, the Minnesota Zoo received about 200 e-mails from zoo patrons outraged to hear a five-member troop of meerkats had to be euthanized, said Communication Director Kelly Lessard, after a 9-year-old girl bitten by one of the animals refused to receive rabies shots.

The entire meerkat family tested negative for the disease, further angering many zoo patrons.

"The parents should have watched their child. If it was my children, they would have received the shots," said Arizona resident and zoo attendee, Carla, who requested that her last name be anonymous, "it would have been a good lesson for her."

Despite signs that state "do not climb rocks" and "do not touch animals," Lessard said, the girl apparently climbed on a pile of rocks, reached over a Plexiglas barrier and down about 4 feet to pet the meerkats, which are about 12 inches tall when standing on their hind legs. Then one of the animals bit her, breaking the skin.

"It's an unfortunate incident, but these are wild animals," Lessard said, "and are not to be touched. That's why we have barriers to protect people and the animals."

The Minnesota Department of Health requires wild animals to be euthanized and tested for rabies unless the bite victim receives a series of five rabies shots in the arm and one around the wound.

The girl's family, who requested that their name not be released, refused to have her receive the shots and it is unknown which meerkat bit her, so the entire troop had to be killed and tested.

All of the troop members were born in captivity, have not had contact with outside animals and were vaccinated for rabies making them "low risk" for infection (99.9 percent), but they still had to be euthanized for testing as required by state law, said Tony Fisher, collection manager at the zoo.

The exhibit was closed until Thursday for modifications.

Now the Meerkats of Kalahari exhibit features three signs stating "Caution: Aminals May Bite," and logs on top of the Plexiglas barrier.

The new barrier reaches to the ceiling of the shelter area where the girl was bit, making it impossible for anyone to reach their hands through.

"This incident is a good lesson for visitors," Fisher said. "Kids can be adventurous, but they need to be watched by a parent or guardian. Kids need contact with animals -- that's why we have our petting zoo, but we like to keep our wild animals wild."

A female meerkat is expected to be brought to the exhibit from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. this fall to breed with one of the males.

Meerkats are African relatives of the mongoose. These social and curious animals were the inspiration for Timon in Disney's "The Lion King."

Jessica Allen is at jessica.allen@ecm-inc.com.

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