Meerkats and monkeys on sale in Blackburn pet store

Monkeys and meerkats have gone on sale at East Lancashire's largest pet store — prompting a storm of protest from animal rights campaigners. One animal protection group said selling the wild animals was 'cruel' and another group said it deplored the actions of Blackburn-based Aquamania. Craig Redmond, of the Captive Animals Protection Society said: "They are such social animals and have specialist needs." And he added that meerkats were burrowing creatures and were likely to 'trash your sofa and carpet'.

Aquamania bosses said they had received threats and were planning to make a complaint to police. They insisted the animals would only be sold once any potential buyer had been thoroughly researched. Boss Ashley Cook said they spent £10,000 building an enclosure to house two pairs of meerkats and four marmoset monkeys. He said that each animal would cost £2,500 when bought with the appropriate enclosures. The marmosets are all nine-months-old and will grow to around 12 inches tall. The meerkats are 14 months old and are fully grown.



Mr Cook, 42, said: "We will not sell them to anyone who just walks through the door. We will take a long time, including making home visits, before a sale is completed. So far we have not sold any of the animals but we could have done so 10 times over, such has been the level of interest. The monkeys and meerkats need indoor and outdoor enclosures and require a lot of attention." Mr Cook said he bought the animals from one of his 'trusted suppliers' and that they did 'a lot of research' before making a decision to put them on sale.

He said: "The monkeys are tame and can be fed by the hand. The meerkats are quiet tame and curious. We have worked to give them the best environment that we can in the shop. Both animals are mischievous and should not be given the run of the house. We wanted to offer something different. The reaction from shoppers so far has been amazing. The vast majority are chuffed to bits to see them." Mr Cook said he had been taken aback by the level of some of the criticism. He said: "There have been threats coming in to the building which are completely out of order and we will be informing the police. But I am open to any constructive advice."