Tragedy struck the Philadelphia Zoo this month with the sudden loss of all five of its meerkats. Zoo officials suspect accidental poisoning from a marking dye as the cause, though a thorough investigation is still underway. The meerkats, a sibling group named Nkosi, Lula, Nya, Kgala, and Ari, had been residents of the zoo for approximately ten years. Known for their sociable nature, playful antics, and communal lifestyle, their absence is deeply felt.

According to Rachel Metz, the zoo's vice president of animal well-being, the dye used to identify individual meerkats has been utilized by the zoo for over three decades without prior incident. The meerkats were marked on June 1st. Within approximately 30 minutes, one meerkat was found deceased. Shortly thereafter, the remaining four exhibited signs of acute illness. Veterinary staff took immediate action, anesthetizing the meerkats and performing stomach pumping. Despite these efforts, three more meerkats succumbed to the illness within 36 hours. The final meerkat, after receiving over a week of intensive medical care, passed away on Monday night.

A meerkat in its enclosure at the Madrid Zoo. (Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Metz confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is being conducted, and the results of necropsies are pending. The zoo community mourns the loss of these beloved animals.