MEERKATS DIE AFTER TUNNEL COLLAPSE AT LEICESTERSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK

Several meerkats died after a tunnel collapsed at Tropical Birdland in Desford, Leicestershire. Rescuers recovered one surviving meerkat from underground rubble but found the remainder of the group had died. The park's team described the incident as a "catastrophic turn of events" in a social media statement and said staff were "heartbroken" at the outcome.

The meerkats had been digging tunnels and preparing an underground chamber in preparation for the arrival of new pups. The matriarch of the group, referred to as "Big Mama", was described by the park as an experienced mother with multiple previous litters. An unusually prolonged heatwave had dried the ground, making it suitable for tunnel construction. However, sudden heavy rainfall following the dry period compromised the structural integrity of the tunnels, causing them to collapse.

The park stated that staff members are providing comfort and monitoring the condition of the surviving meerkat. The team issued a statement thanking the public for their support "during this difficult and upsetting time". The incident prompted responses from visitors to the wildlife park, with some expressing sadness about the deaths and concern for the survivor's welfare.