Id UPDATE: MEERKATS AT EASE AGAIN

The pandemic may not be over, but some things are starting to get back to normal, and that has more than just humans relieved. When lockdowns began in earnest last March there were reports of wild animals enjoying the absence of people, such as kangaroos roaming the streets and sheep enjoying a merry-go-round. But in time zookeepers around the world began to report some animals that were accustomed to regular visitors were starting to miss them, as evidenced by changes in their behavior. Meerkats also noticed the isolation and seem happy to see people again. Several UK zoos report more positive interactions among their meerkat residents after visitors were allowed to return. In contrast, zoo penguins were observed behaving in the same ways regardless, suggesting they didn’t care one way or the other.