Grrrrrrrrrrrr
Aug. 4th, 2006 12:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hellziggyYes, most of the Minnesotans on my flist have already posted this, but I just have to get my rant on too...
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/595384.html
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/595384.html
MEERKAT080506
Last update: August 04, 2006 – 12:03 PM
Destroyed meerkats did not have rabies
A family of five Minnesota Zoo meerkats destroyed after a girl was bitten did not have rabies, a zoo official said today.
Bob Von Sternberg and Chao Xoingstar Tribune Staff Writers
A family of five Minnesota Zoo meerkats destroyed after a girl was bitten did not have rabies, a zoo official said today.
The girl, who has not been identified, was bitten Wednesday when she reached her hand into the animals' exhibit.
The meerkats -- two mates and their three offspring born this spring -- had been vaccinated for rabies but were killed because the girl's parents didn't want her to have to undergo a series of rabies shots, said zoo collections manager Tony Fisher.
Meerkats are a highly social relative of the mongoose and are native to the African desert. They were popularized in the Disney animated movie "The Lion King" and have been on display at the zoo for about four years.
The 9-year-old girl had climbed atop 3 feet of rock work and reached over a 4-foot glass barrier Wednesday afternoon when she was bitten, Fisher said. The rock work is designed to allow kids to climb up for a better view, he said.
Zoo staff members were notified soon after the incident. The exhibit was closed until crews can lower the rock work to prevent anyone else from reaching over the glass, Fisher said.
A second group of meerkats will be moved from an indoor exhibit to the outdoor one when the modifications are complete, he said, adding that the time frame is unknown.
The entire family of meerkats was destroyed because it is unknown which one bit the girl, Fisher said, adding there is little to no chance that the animals carried the disease.
Meerkats are curious, bold animals, traits that make them highly popular at zoos, Fisher said, but they are still wild. "We handle them with thick leather gloves," he said. "They're not pets."
Incidents of visitors trying to pet animals or even scaling barriers for a closer view are not uncommon, he said.
©2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
Last update: August 04, 2006 – 12:03 PM
Destroyed meerkats did not have rabies
A family of five Minnesota Zoo meerkats destroyed after a girl was bitten did not have rabies, a zoo official said today.
Bob Von Sternberg and Chao Xoingstar Tribune Staff Writers
A family of five Minnesota Zoo meerkats destroyed after a girl was bitten did not have rabies, a zoo official said today.
The girl, who has not been identified, was bitten Wednesday when she reached her hand into the animals' exhibit.
The meerkats -- two mates and their three offspring born this spring -- had been vaccinated for rabies but were killed because the girl's parents didn't want her to have to undergo a series of rabies shots, said zoo collections manager Tony Fisher.
Meerkats are a highly social relative of the mongoose and are native to the African desert. They were popularized in the Disney animated movie "The Lion King" and have been on display at the zoo for about four years.
The 9-year-old girl had climbed atop 3 feet of rock work and reached over a 4-foot glass barrier Wednesday afternoon when she was bitten, Fisher said. The rock work is designed to allow kids to climb up for a better view, he said.
Zoo staff members were notified soon after the incident. The exhibit was closed until crews can lower the rock work to prevent anyone else from reaching over the glass, Fisher said.
A second group of meerkats will be moved from an indoor exhibit to the outdoor one when the modifications are complete, he said, adding that the time frame is unknown.
The entire family of meerkats was destroyed because it is unknown which one bit the girl, Fisher said, adding there is little to no chance that the animals carried the disease.
Meerkats are curious, bold animals, traits that make them highly popular at zoos, Fisher said, but they are still wild. "We handle them with thick leather gloves," he said. "They're not pets."
Incidents of visitors trying to pet animals or even scaling barriers for a closer view are not uncommon, he said.
©2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
This has pissed me off so much. A nine year old should know better. Also, where were her parents? Did they see her climbing up and reaching down? Did they tell her not to?
This family should be banned from the zoo for life. They should also have to pay the replacement costs for 5 meerkats and the necropsies.
Is it cruel and petty of me that I had been hoping that one of the meerkats would have had rabies so that she has to get the shots anyway?
So the cute little Suricata suricatta in my icon may be dead now. Also, these pictures following? Most likely dead as they were on exhibit just a few weeks ago.
Yes, people are important, and often times we have to put humans rights and safety over that of animals. But not in this case. These senseless deaths could have all been prevented with a vaccine. Yes, the vaccine isn't fun, but it would also be a lesson to the girl and her parents that life has consequences. I personally feel that as she was reaching into a area off limits and it wasn't a case of an animal getting out and biting her that there should have not been a choice about the shots.
This family should be banned from the zoo for life. They should also have to pay the replacement costs for 5 meerkats and the necropsies.
Is it cruel and petty of me that I had been hoping that one of the meerkats would have had rabies so that she has to get the shots anyway?
So the cute little Suricata suricatta in my icon may be dead now. Also, these pictures following? Most likely dead as they were on exhibit just a few weeks ago.
Yes, people are important, and often times we have to put humans rights and safety over that of animals. But not in this case. These senseless deaths could have all been prevented with a vaccine. Yes, the vaccine isn't fun, but it would also be a lesson to the girl and her parents that life has consequences. I personally feel that as she was reaching into a area off limits and it wasn't a case of an animal getting out and biting her that there should have not been a choice about the shots.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-04 11:09 pm (UTC)If there were more parents like you the world would be a better place!
The vaccine? Six shots in the arm over a 4 week time frame. Not more irritating than any other vaccine.
I can understand (although I don't agree with) saying no to the vaccine back in the day when it was twenty painful shots in the stomach. But to decide that your child that you can't even be bothered to be keeping an eye on having to get shots is more trouble than killing 5 beautiful little creatures just doing what their nature say? Criminal!
They have not released the name of the family at all. Probably for the best because the sentiment here with everyone I've talked to is that the family made the wrong choice.
When you come to Minnesota some day I will take you and your smart & well-behaved children to see our wonderful zoo!