"Meerkats Go To The Far West"

Being born in a miniature old Wild West town – perhaps this nameless baby Meerkat should be called ‘Billy the Kid’.

But the tiny critter is no ‘lone ranger’ – being one of triplets recently born at the Parrot Zoo in Friskney.

“We built a western-style town for the Meerkats which started off with just a saloon bar,” said zoo owner Steve Nichols. “But it now has a bank, jail, sheriff’s office, general stores, a church and graveyard complete with tombstones.
“It opened in September and we let them go in as an experiment at first but we could soon see they were hanging out and congregating around the church.”

And it was some time later inside this miniature church that a female Meerkat gave birth to the triplets. Their parents were both rescued by the zoo.
The three lively babies are yet to be named – but staff at the zoo are inviting suggestions from visitors.
“Because they were born in the church we have had a lot of biblical names suggested,” said Steve.
This is the second time they have given birth at the Parrot Zoo and its Meerkat enclosure is now one of the largest in the UK, measuring 120 ft by 40 ft.

Steve added: “The meerkats are by far the most popular attraction - we’ve got more than 2,000 parrots, lemurs, reptiles and other mammals, but when people see the Meerkats they just turn to jelly.”

-Boston Standard-

"Two Princes And One Flower"

For this entry, as you'll see immediately, I used an ancient and very well known ballad; or at least, the form. In this case, the song tells of when Youssarian and Zaphod met Flower, to build later the Whiskers Mob.

Anyway, here it is... Hope you enjoy it, then.


There lived a Lady in some desert land.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
She had the greatest law in her hands.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Sometimes the Flower, sometimes the Rose.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
But always mother and Queen for us.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Her star shone brighter since she was born.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
She just got stronger being left alone.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Two Meerkat Princes then found her way,
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
but only one could share her days.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Would you please, fair Lady, be my wife?
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
Say yes and you'll have the happiest life.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

But I can give you a hoard of dreams
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
turning to children in every Spring.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

And so the other Prince had to wait.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
Yet marry that Queen was his real fate.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

He won her heart to stay by her side.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
Of great Kings now he had the pride.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

A dinasty with his wife he made
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
that ne'er in centuries would fade.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

She was the biggest Queen by own right,
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
and he was Zaphod his valiant Knight.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

This royal couple would always stand
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
just like the rock lying beneath the sand.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

When face to face with black death she was,
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
she surely left bleeding her nose.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

And now that Flower will always stay
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
in Zaphod's arms till the end of days.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

"Castle In The Desert"

Zaphod, in his life as a ruler in the land of sands.

I'd like to have a picture of him

through all the Centuries,

and always with that King

on the top of the World,

For that's what he deserves to be honored daily.

"The Dog Who Adopted A Kat"

A baby Meerkat which was expected to die after being abandoned is now being reared by an unusual adoptive mother - a pet Chihuahua.

Tiny Wilson was born on January 20 - but was immediately shunned by his real mother as the runt of the litter.

Dennis Drew, 30, owner of Mablethorpe Seal and animal Sanctuary, in Lincolnshire had the idea of introducing him to his colleague's pet Chihuahua Kimi - who was going through a phantom pregnancy at the time. She has reared him as her own ever since.

He introduced Wilson to the Dog - who was lactating as part of her phantom pregnancy - and was amazed when the Meerkat fed from her.

After nearly two months together, the pair have forged an inseparable bond. Wilson now follows 18 month-old Kimi around wherever she goes, hitches a ride on her back - and the cute pair can often be seen curled up in a Dog basket together.
'He took to the milk and within a few days Kimi had literally taken over as mother. He started to become bigger and stronger and now he is doing fantastic. The two are pretty much inseparable now and Wilson follows Kimi wherever she goes and they curl up in the basket together.

'Kimi even gets very protective and will growl if anybody goes near Wilson - I have worked with animals for over five years and I have never seen anything like this before.'

He said the Meerkat is on solids now and that he was looking to reintroduce Wilson back to the family who rejected him.

Ms Clark said Wilson had even begun to show signs of acting like a dog. 'He craves human attention and will sit on the sofa for a stroke and watch TV,' she said.

'It's something you wouldn't be able to do with any other Meerkats at the sanctuary. When the doorbell goes and Kimi barks at the door - he will sit in front of her and do the same.

'I'm really going to miss him when he gets reintroduced to the other Meerkats because he feels part of the family now.'

Who said that my mom is small???