For those who are interested regarding Kapa @ The Honolulu Zoo, the following is an email message I received today from the Peter Luscomb.
quote:
We have been in contact with the Gladys Porter zoo in Texas and we will be acquiring animals from them. I talked with Jerry Stone this morning and they have three groups of meerkats that are available: 3 males, 1 male and 4 females, 2 males and 2 females. We are trying to figure out which group will best meet our needs. I have submitted my import permit to the State Ag department and am in the process of doing our Injurious wildlife permit with the USFW service. The Injurious Wildlife permit does take time so we are not sure when we will be able to acquire the animals. In terms of a burrow mate for Kapa, we will not be introducing him to the new group as they will more than likely kill him. Meerkats are very aggressive and many people who have had to remove one animal from a grouping, for even a short period of time, were not able to re-introduce them back to the group because of aggression. This is why Gladys Porter zoo has so many groups of meerkats. We will try to set Kapa up in a good retirement situation and make his life as comfortable as possible.
Aloha Peter
Peter Luscomb General Curator Honolulu Zoo 151 Kapahulu Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
I am looking forward to the new additions and glad that Kapa will be safe and live out his life comfortably.
Misty, this is great news. God bless their decent curator who's trying to get more kats, despite past inappropriate remarks from their zoo director about meerkats not needing companions.
It appears I'll be contacting the Pt. Defiance Zoo (Tacoma) and the Honolulu Zoo withing the next week to touch base with their kat-plans.
I'll also let Honolulu know of the breakthrough in meerkat introduction science discovered last year at UK Zoos, where a little Vicks VapoRub under their nose makes them unable to smell rival gangs, and they'll scent mark each other until they share scents (before the Vicks wears off), and then perhaps Kapa will (hopefully) be accepted as part of the gang.
Perhaps Pt Defiance & Honolulu can inspire the LA Zoo, who are dreading the forms & permit process involved with finding companions for Chico in LA.
Jen, I plan to touch base with with Honolulu (& Pt Defiance in Tacoma) next week, for the same reason I'm waiting until next week to talk again with the LA Zoo (of which I emailed you about).
Yes, I live on Oahu. Preferrably, I'd like to see Kapa with a partner, he is probably quite lonely. Animals that live in groups usually do not do well as a loner.
I commend you and your group for your dedication and make a difference. Thank you. I have loved animals all my life. Being able to see exotic animals are a treat for me. I have always enjoyed the meerkat exhibit ever since its inception at the Honolulu Zoo. Next to the otters, they are my favorites. Meerkat Manor gave me insight into their lives and I can only admire them for their feisty, but gentle nature.
If you can help Kapa, and the Honolulu Zoo, "Wonderful!"
Misty, ultimately, it's up to the Honolulu Zoo as to how they want to proceed. What the WCMS/ECMS can do is offer strategic & financial help to them with their kats if they choose to accept it.
We're similarly working with the LA Zoo on a similar concern with their lone meerkat, Chico. The LA Zoo has decided to first put together their own plan, without outside help, and then let us know how we can assist with the fundraising part. I'll see if the Honululu Zoo would be interested in similar assistance, but it appears that bringing new kats in has been solved for them. It looks like they just need the benefits of knowing additional meer introduction techniques, so that Kapa doesn't continue to be left alone while his new meer-neighbors are kept in a family next door. Introducing Kapa to 1 or 2 kats should be reasonable, or he could be introduced to larger groups if more extreme measures were taken like VapoRub on noses with CONSTANT initial supervision. Please stay in touch. It's great to know that we have a fellow forum member who's local to Hulu's situation. We had another Honolulu forum member as well, but I haven't seen them post in a while. We also had a previous Kapa thread here in case you'd like to read additional comments for Kapa.
Kapa passes away... It's with a heavy heart that I bring you the tragic news that Kapa, the Honolulu Zoo meerkat who was left alone after his companion Hulu went missing last year, has died of old age (& perhaps loneliness). Kapa would've been 12 this year. http://starbulletin.com/2008/07/05/news/whatever.html
That is so sad. He is in a much better place now, and he will never be alone again. I'am a little late finding this out, but I will light a candel for him in my home.
