Boronia Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-15/meerkats-move-in-to-melbourne-hospital/3573248 Meerkats move in to Melbourne hospital Updated October 16, 2011 01:18:55 A group of Meerkats have been installed in an enclosure at the new Royal Children's Hospital in the hope they will take the patients minds off their illnesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 Oh fascinating to watch!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esky the husky Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 That's amazing. What a great feature for the kiddies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9angel Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 Aww I agree. What a lovely idea. The meercats look really happy too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumosmum Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 Agree, I think this is just wonderful. I love the Meercats. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Yep, I saw this on the news last night and thought what a great idea for the kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sausy.dog Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 What a fabulous idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyd Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Awesome idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 On 16/10/2011 at 12:01 AM, Kirislin said: Yep, I saw this on the news last night and thought what a great idea for the kids. I saw the footage, too. The meercats are so cute. The senior doctor who was being interviewed was as enthusiastic as a big kid himself! It was delightful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizabella Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 That's a really lovely idea, it's good to hear that they will have zoo staff looking after them. I wonder if this has been done before anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris the Rebel Wolf Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 What a fantastic idea! Really really nice to see. The Meerkat's enclosure look fantastic, lots of enrichments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda K Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 love meerkats, they are always on my must see list anytime we are at the zoo, at least that will be a great distraction for the kids at the hospital Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I hope they keep the cage clean. One pub-restaurant I used to go to has a large bird avairy in the middle of it. The sides around where the diners sit are glass so no birdy stuff can get where you're eating, but the cage itself is filthy - the windows are covered in gunk, and it's full of bird crap like they never clean it and I can't dine there any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 wonderful! but no substitute for bringing in dogs . . . so that kids can cuddle and touch as well as watching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Quote I hope they keep the cage clean. being that it is in a Hospital, and that experienced Zoo staff are responsible , I would have no doubts ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mags Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Hope it all goes well - lovely enclosure and will give the kids something to think about. I love meerkats but they aren't necessarily all sweetness and light so I hope they don't end up traumatising the kids with an outbreak of violence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyBlue Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 That's a really good idea. I wonder if they will do similar things with other hospitals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juddabug Whippets Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 On 17/10/2011 at 12:53 AM, persephone said: Quote I hope they keep the cage clean. being that it is in a Hospital, and that experienced Zoo staff are responsible , I would have no doubts ! I can tell you that it'll be kept to the same high standards we keep them in the zoo. The nursing staff, sponsors all love it and spend time just 'having a look' while we're there feeding and servicing the exhibit. It'll be a great distraction for the 600+ kids who'll go through outpatients daily. This group is a non breeding group, it is also a very stable family group so outbreaks of violence or aggression will be very infrequent and when it does occur it is short live, lasting only a few seconds. There is interest from other hospitals around the world. The aquarium at RCH is also awesome! We are in a unique position due to the zoo's proximity to the hospital means it's a short walk across the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 As I said- I have no doubt everything will work Meerkats are just so perfect- as they are rarely relaxed..there is always something happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Such a lovely, well established and experienced family group too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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