Saying Goodbye to ‘Kwando’

Earlier this month, we were heartbroken to say goodbye to our male slender-tailed meerkat, Kwando.

After a sudden onset of neurological symptoms, Kwando was quickly brought to our Animal Health Centre. An ultrasound revealed extensive changes to his liver and multiple masses in his spleen, raising serious concerns for cancer. As his neurological condition rapidly declined, our Animal Health team made the difficult but compassionate decision to euthanize him. A necropsy later confirmed the findings, including likely spread to his lungs, along with age-related degenerative changes affecting his kidneys, joints, and spine.

Kwando and his brother, ‘Karoo’, were born at London Zoo on August 11, 2011, and joined our zoo family on November 15, 2012. Meerkats are highly social animals, known for their cooperative nature and alloparenting—where group members help raise the young. Though his biological paternity wasn’t confirmed, Kwando was an active and attentive caregiver to pups ‘Kalahari’ and ‘Khoti’, born here earlier this year.

Kwando was a cherished member of our zoo family and will be deeply missed. Please keep his dedicated caregivers in your thoughts during this difficult time.