A sudden rainstorm in Leicestershire caused what staff have called a 'catastrophic' meerkat tunnel collapse at Tropical Birdland in Desford, killing almost an entire mob at the UK wildlife park and leaving just one surviving meerkat.
In an online statement, Tropical Birdland announced 'with heavy hearts' that its 'beloved meerkats' had died when their tunnel system gave way. According to the park, downpours that followed a heatwave 'compromised the structure of the tunnels, causing them to collapse', trapping the mob underground.
