Monday 30 July 2007

VapoRub Stops Meerkat Fights

Animal experts from Paultons Park near Romsey, Hampshire, England, have discovered an ingenious new way to stop their meerkats fighting, by using VapoRub, a humble cold remedy. The staff were concerned that their two existing meerkats would fight with three new arrivals.

They realised a decongestant rub, normally used to ease cold symptoms, could mask the African animals' scent. In the wild, meerkats normally attack newcomers to a group. The five animals at Paultons Park have had the strong smelling rub applied to their noses to hide their scent long enough for them to get used to each other without any arguments.

1 comment(s):

Anonymous said...

But who's brave enough to put a finger close to a meerkat's nose?