A colony of meerkats has been nearly wiped out at Tropical Birdland in Desford, Leicestershire, after a tunnel collapse following heavy rainfall. One meerkat was rescued, but the rest of the group, including a pregnant female known as 'Big Mama', could not be saved.
The incident occurred after a period of heatwaves across England, which had led the meerkats to dig new burrows in the dry ground in preparation for new pups. However, the freshly dug chambers proved unstable and collapsed when sudden, heavy rain followed the dry spell.
"In an unexpected and catastrophic turn of events, the sudden heavy rainfall after such a long hot dry spell compromised the structure of the tunnels causing them to collapse," Tropical Birdland stated on social media. "Staff were able to locate where the Meerkats were underground and were able to rescue one member of the mob, but were heartbroken to find the rest of the group had passed away."
The park reported that staff are spending time with the surviving meerkat to ensure its comfort. The park has been home to meerkats for several years and previously offered a "Meet the Meerkat Mob for Breakfast" experience.
The events at the wildlife park follow expert warnings that the end of summer heatwaves could lead to flash flooding. With approximately 71 percent of England officially in drought after the driest July in 190 years, the ground has become hard and is unable to absorb water effectively. The Met Office has forecast heavy showers and thunderstorms across England and Wales, increasing the risk of localized flooding, particularly in southern England and Wales where rain may fall on dry, hard ground.
