This was the reply I receieved from the Minnesota Zoo after writing them
about my displeasure with the Meerkat situation:
 
"Thank you for contacting the Minnesota Zoo and for sharing your
concerns.
 
Everyone at the Zoo is saddened by the recent meerkat incident.  The Zoo
has very few options in a situation like this.  When a person is bitten
by a wild animal, there are only two choices: the person with the bite
undergoes a series of post-exposure rabies vaccination shots or the
animal needs to be tested for rabies.
 
The Minnesota Zoo strongly encouraged the family to consult with their
family physician to discuss their daughter receiving the vaccination
shots.  The family decided not to have their daughter receive the
vaccination shots, and so the Department of Public Health determined
that the Minnesota Zoo must test the meerkats for rabies according to
Minnesota State Statute 1705.1151 (see below).  All five animals in the
exhibit had to be tested since it was unclear which animal bit the girl.
Although the Zoo regularly vaccinates our animals for rabies, these
vaccines are developed for domestic animals (cats and dogs) therefore we
cannot be 100% certain that it is effective in wild species.  The ONLY
conclusive way to test for rabies requires a biopsy of the brain and
brain stem, which means death for the animal.
 
The Meerkats of the Kalahari exhibit was built in 2001 and this is the
first incident of its kind since the exhibit opened.  The exhibit was
reviewed and evaluated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prior to
opening and it met all industry standards regarding animal containment
and safety.  Further, the USDA performs inspections of all Zoo mammal
exhibits twice a year, every year.  This exhibit has always passed
inspection.  We were inspected again on August 7, 2006 following the
incident and once again the exhibit passed USDA inspection.
 
Please know that we are evaluating the situation, and that our meerkat
exhibit re-opened today.  Again, thank you for your thoughts and
concerns.
 
Minnesota State Statute 1705.1151 Bites to Humans
Subpart 3.  Wild animals; domesticated wild animals; hybrid animals If a
wild animal, domesticated wild animal, or hybrid animal bites a human,
the wild animal, if available, must by euthanized and tested for rabies.
Domesticated wild or hybrid animals must be euthanized and tested for
rabies, except that the animal may be exempted from testing if a
veterinarian determines that the animal shows no signs of rabies, the
local authority, the state public health veterinarian, and the executive
director of the board of animal health agree, and the person bitten
receives the postexposure vaccination regimen.  An exempt animal must
be quarantined until the completion of the postexposure regimen."
 
Darn those selfish humans!  Poor little meerkats.  Flower and Zaphod
would have set those humans straight!
 
Jennifer and the Jersey Fuzzbuckets
[Posted in FML issue 5332]