Invasive meerkats

[m1.carson]

Hi,

Read in the paper a few days ago, that a couple had built a meerkat run in their garden and stocked it with four.

Has anyone checked whether they could become invasive, some are bound to escape from there or elsewhere.

Max.

[Fritillary]

I think most (if not all) invasive began like that. What I found silly is that people are free to do all these stupid things in spite of authorities and scientists know very well of the potential invasive of species free them like that.
The african snail began like that in USA. A boy brought them to Florida (I think) and just left them free in the back garden...

[metalfish]

can you imagine if they did become invasive, getting the public to accept the need for culling these much loved creatures doesn't bere thinking about. Hopefully the couple have got sense and have re-inforced their garden.

I'm really not into the idea of keeping 'exotic' pets anyway, some people will keep them properly but most seem to have good intentions but no clue as how

[Vincent86]

Originally Posted by metalfish

can you imagine if they did become invasive, getting the public to accept the need for culling these much loved creatures doesn't bere thinking about. Hopefully the couple have got sense and have re-inforced their garden.

I'm really not into the idea of keeping 'exotic' pets anyway, some people will keep them properly but most seem to have good intentions but no clue as how

Hoping for the same thing. Are the couple clueless? or just pretending to be?

[NJP87]

As long as they have designed the run properly then there shouldn't be a problem, meermaks are widley kept by exotic pet keepers and they haven't over run the country yet

I well designed enclosure well have a concerte base to stop them digging out.

[Bobbobthebob]

If you go see these animals at the zoo in the UK, you'll see that they have heatlamps all over the place on the outside. I doubt such a slender animal adapted for life in the hot savannah would make it through British winters.

[solus]

I think the danger may come if people (not specialist exotic animal keepers but ordinary Joe Public) are influenced by certain rather popular TV ads and are able to obtain the creatures as pets (=fashion accessories) when they will be kept until the owners become bored or the animals become too much of a nuisance at which point they may be "released into the wild". Remember "ninja" turtles? Dalmation puppies thet grew into big dogs and were abandoned? Skunks which now they can't have scent glands removed are turning up in the countryside? Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs that outgrew suburban houses?

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by Bobbobthebob

If you go see these animals at the zoo in the UK, you'll see that they have heatlamps all over the place on the outside. I doubt such a slender animal adapted for life in the hot savannah would make it through British winters.

I was thinking along similar lines to this. Plus...what would they eat? Where would they find the right habitat? Would they be heavily predated? It's not to say they couldn't cope, but interesting to speculate as to how they (or indeed any alien species) would adapt.

[m1.carson]

Hi People,

Wondering how they'll adapt,? you only need to look at the very lengthy list of ADAPTED invasive species that MAFF are trying to deal with, they're fairly smart, they'll adapt alright.

I don't really want to find a tribe moved into my vegetable patch.

Max.

P.S. slender maybe, stoats, weasels anyone.?

[epops]

why would anyone feel the need to keep meerkats?plus like others dont see a meerkat cull going down to well if they escaped and bred like....... well meekats or like those pygmy hedgehogs breed they'll be the next thing people dont want any more what'll happen to those people really dont think when they buy these pets jeeez it makes me a tad cross to say the least sorry for rant folks

[Fritillary]

I have african snails since 5 years ago and although it is practically impossible they can survive UK winters, I put all eggs in the freezers to avoid overpopulation in my box or even if they could escape to the wild. I will do the same if I were in a tropical country and there it would be a catasthrophe if I leave them outside.
It is a big responsability have any pet, still more if it is an exotic species. Unfortunately people are too silly these days to just take animals like accesories

[NJP87]

Originally Posted by epops

why would anyone feel the need to keep meerkats?plus like others dont see a meerkat cull going down to well if they escaped and bred like....... well meekats or like those pygmy hedgehogs breed they'll be the next thing people dont want any more what'll happen to those people really dont think when they buy these pets jeeez it makes me a tad cross to say the least sorry for rant folks

Why do people keep dogs, cats or hamsters? Exotic pets are no different except some require a little more care, far more "normal pets" are mistreated and abandoned then exotics, and in the case of cats cause far more damage to native wildlife.

I myself have owned a fair few reptiles and marine fish and corals and see it as no ddifferent than keeping a cat or dog

Meerkats are readily available pets and many people own them, there's no need to worry about an invasion.

[Beekeeper]

The Meercats are definitely invading our country, i see them on the Tv every day, comparing each other.

Ian

[Fritillary]

<<Why do people keep dogs, cats or hamsters? Exotic pets are no different except some require a little more care, far more "normal pets" are mistreated and abandoned then exotics, and in the case of cats cause far more damage to native wildlife.>>

Well if you like to have exotic pets (so do I) it is fine, it looks you are somebody responsible. However we cannot close our eyes that there are lot of silly people out there that take an animal (it doesnt matter what, a cat, a dog, a tiger or a boa) only as an accesory for their houses and after few months of having them, they realise this extra care is too much and they abandon them in the wild wich represent suffering for the animal and also a potential danger for the ecosystems.

For example in USA, the boas were very popular and by one way they have become invasives because owners left them free in Florida and also there have been disgraces when the boa ate the neighbour's cat, dog or even a baby in the same family. And all this is the result of ignorance.

Attacking cats are most dangerous than exotics is non sense, here we are not discussing which exotic animal is causing more damages but the potential danger that some exotic might become invasives because of unresponsible owners (again not you).

[Vincent86]

they are cute though

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

The Meercats are definitely invading our country, i see them on the Tv every day, comparing each other.

Ian

Perhaps we should be especially worried as they seem to originate from Russia!

D.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Bobbobthebob

If you go see these animals at the zoo in the UK, you'll see that they have heatlamps all over the place on the outside. I doubt such a slender animal adapted for life in the hot savannah would make it through British winters.

This is my thought as well. As far as Im aware they arn't found outside the tropics and sub-tropics. Plus our large insectivore, the hedgehog, needs to hibernate to survive winter due to lack of food, so if the cold didn't get them I think the lack of food would