The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee pals compare the meerkats
Two teenagers have spoken about their surprise at finding a meerkat living wild in Dundee. Franek Czarnecki and his friend Amy Smith, 14, helped trap the stray animal with a piece of ham and a plastic box until a Scottish SPCA specialist could come and rescue it.
Franek said he had gone to the park near South Road with his friend on Friday when they discovered the animal.
Experts from the animal charity found another wild meerkat in the area the following day.
“We were sitting on the swings and then I looked over and something ran past us. I thought it was a tiny cat,” Franek said.
“When I went over, it was standing up with its paws out and its head up. I thought: oh God it’s a meerkat.”
He said they phoned the SSPCA for help.
“The woman didn’t believe me at first,” he said.
“I sent her photos and emails and they asked me to keep the meerkat with us for as long as possible.”
He said his sister and her friend came and brought a plastic box and some ham.
“They couldn’t believe it. It was sitting just six feet in front of us,” he added.
He called home and said he screamed “we’ve found a meerkat” to his mum.
An SSPCA officer arrived and took the animal away. Amy said: “It was surreal. “We didn’t know how to react. I’m glad the meerkat is OK now.”
The SSPCA specialists returned the next day and found a second animal living in the area.
It was initially thought the meerkats, a species of mongoose that originates from southern Africa, had escaped from Camperdown Wildlife Centre.
However, all of the centre’s meerkats are accounted for, leading to speculation the strays had been kept as pets and later released into the city.
Meerkats have become increasingly popular after featuring in nature documentaries and, in animated form, in TV adverts for price comparison site Compare the Market.
The meerkats have both been taken to Camperdown where they are said to be in good condition.
Senior animal rescue officer Ben Soutar received a bite to his protective glove when he collected the animals.
He said: “We can confirm that we were called to rescue two meerkats from South Road in Dundee.
“The first meerkat was found on March 12 and the second a day later in the same location.”
Scotland’s leading woodland charity has criticised plans for an Angus power line that could see the destruction of rare pockets of ancient woodland.
SSEN Transmission is consulting on three main routes for a new 132kV overhead power line, running from west of Aberdeen to Tealing, north of Dundee.
The company has said the line is essential to connect renewable power to the national grid. Its current preferred route runs through Montreathmont Forest, near Brechin.
Woodland Trust Scotland has said it has “serious concerns” over the plan, which could affect “at least 25 ancient woodlands and one veteran scots pine”.
Veteran trees are judged to be irreplaceable parts of Scotland’s flora and fauna.
A further area of ancient woodland is within very close proximity to the scheme, the charity pointed out in its response to a SSEN Transmission consultation.
The line will replace an existing 132kV line that already runs over the forest. The new line could be carried between 27m steel lattice towers where the existing line runs on shorter wooden poles.
Nicole Hillier, Woodland Trust Scotland campaigner, responded on behalf of the charity: “Ancient woodland and veteran trees are irreplaceable habitats that must be protected from damage, loss and deterioration.
“It is imperative that any new development does not diminish these precious sites and that every possible measure is explored to prevent adverse impact.
“The Woodland Trust strongly opposes this scheme on the grounds of serious impact to several areas of ancient woodland and a veteran tree.
“The preferred route should fully consider all areas of ancient woodland and protect them from detrimental impact and loss.”
The charity believes the development could lead to direct loss of ancient woodland within “the corridors” the company has identified for the work.
Campaigners also fear the construction could lead to workers trampling sensitive ancient woodland flora and soils if access is required through the ancient woodland sites.
Work could also have a damaging effect on wildlife, the charity added.
“Development in ancient woodland can lead to longterm changes in species composition, particularly ground flora and sensitive fauna,” said Ms Hillier.
“For example, nesting birds, mammals and reptiles.”
The Woodland Trust owns more than 1,000 sites across the UK, covering around 27,000 hectares (ha). In Scotland, it owns and cares for around 60 sites covering an excess of 11,300ha.
This include the 5,000ha Glen Finglas estate near Loch Lomond and significant urban forestry holdings in Glenrothes and Livingston.
Tourism businesses along the proposed routes have also shared their concerns about the plans.
An SSEN Transmission spokesman said: “As a responsible developer, we are committed to work with all stakeholders throughout the development of this critical national infrastructure.
“We would like to thank the Woodland Trust for its feedback. This will be carefully considered as we seek to develop an acceptable solution.”