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Vicks keeps meerkats in check
Zoo keepers have come up with an ingenious way to stop meerkats from fighting - hide their scent with Vicks VapoRub.
Experts at Paultons Park near Romsey in Hampshire were concerned that their two existing meerkats would fight with three new arrivals when they were introduced to the family attraction.
So they came up with the plan to use the decongestant - known to millions of humans who want to ease their cold symptoms.
The product is put on the animals' noses and hides their scent long enough for all of them to get used to each other without any arguments.
Livestock manager Geoff Masson said: ``The new meerkats arrived from Bristol and Banham Zoos. It is normally extremely difficult to integrate new meerkats into an existing group - their usual instinct is to try to attack any newcomers.
``However, thanks to a suggestion from our vet, Kate Chitty, we were able to neutralise all odours by using a little of the VapoRub on the nose of each meerkat.
``The meerkat then all smelt the same to each other and gladly accepted the new arrivals."
The new group are now getting along famously and are already showing signs of breeding.
Mr Masson added: ``We are very hopeful that things will continue to go well for our latest residents and that we will be celebrating the arrival of some baby meerkats before long.''
The sociable and highly territorial animals originally come from southern Africa and a collection of five or more meerkats is called a mob or a gang.
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
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