Five meerkats die at Pennsylvania zoo — and poisoning is the likely cause, officials say
Five meerkats suddenly died at a Pennsylvania zoo after they were likely accidentally poisoned, officials said.
One of the animals was found dead in its enclosure June 1 at the Philadelphia Zoo, and four others died days later after falling seriously ill, according to the Associated Press. They were named Nkosi, Lula, Nya, Kgala, and Ari, the outlet reported.
Officials are awaiting necropsy results, but believe that a dye used to identify the meerkats may have killed them, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. An investigation into the matter has been opened and is being assisted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The zoo has used the dye for three decades, Rachel Metz, vice president of animal well-being, told CBS News, adding that it’s also employed by animal researchers and in the agriculture industry.
“Something different happened and we don’t know what that is,” Metz told the Inquirer. “We’ve started our initial fact-finding and are talking about everything that happened, step by step.”
Weasel-like and gregarious, meerkats are burrowing creatures native to southern Africa, according to the zoo’s website. They live in “mobs” of up to a few dozen individuals and communicate through purrs and high-pitched calls.
A representative for the zoo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
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