TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Pedestrians in a quiet coastal district of New Taipei City did double-takes this week as an unexpected visitor straight out of a Disney film casually meandered down local streets. A meerkat, reminiscent of the beloved Timon character from "The Lion King," created a stir in Sanjhih District (三芝區), prompting intervention from New Taipei City's Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office (AHIQO, 新北市動保處), which now plans to trace the animal's origins and locate its owner.
The unusual sighting first caught the attention of Lin Jing-qin (林璟欽), a local breakfast shop owner who recognized the potential risks of having an exotic animal wandering freely through urban streets. Media reported on Thursday (April 24) that Lin promptly alerted authorities while watching the surreal scene unfold outside his establishment. It was like something from a cartoon, he remarked, as curious onlookers gathered around the small, upright-standing creature known for its distinctive sentinel posture.
Responding to the unusual call, animal protection officer Li Guo-liang (李國良) arrived at the scene and successfully captured the wayward animal without incident. According to official statements, veterinary examination revealed a healthy male meerkat showing no signs of injury or distress despite its urban adventure. Officials noted that meerkats, native to the Kalahari Desert regions of Southern Africa, are not indigenous to Taiwan's subtropical environment, leading authorities to conclude the animal likely escaped from a private owner.
The incident has prompted animal welfare officials to issue a broader reminder about the responsibilities of exotic pet ownership. In their public statement, the Animal Protection Office emphasized meerkats' highly social nature and natural burrowing behaviors, characteristics that make them particularly challenging as household pets. Officials reinforced their ongoing message regarding responsible animal guardianship with their standard guidance: "Know it before you raise it, and commit to it without abandonment." ★
