Meerkats have long been a favourite at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and around the world.
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But for Dubbo’s William Ryan, the small mammals hold a special place in his heart.
Mr Ryan – or Bill, as he’s known – has visited the zoo at least once a week for the last 12 years, with his favourite spot watching over the meerkats.
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So when the zoo welcomed two meerkat pups in August 2012, there was no hesitation to name one of them Billy.
Mr Ryan said learning he would have a meerkat namesake was the “greatest feeling in the world”.
“I just think they’re cute, they’re the greatest little animal going,” he said.
“I like all animals but … the meerkats? They’re my favourites.”
His home is adorned with meerkat photos – including one of Billy – as well as ornaments.
Animals are great ... and if you’ve got the time to spend with them they do all sorts of different things!
- Bill Ryan
The pair has more in common than just their names; like Mr Ryan, five-year-old Billy is not attention-seeking like some of his siblings, instead preferring to sit back and observe.
Mr Ryan attends the zoo every Monday to watch the animals, but made a special visit on Tuesday for World Meerkat Day.
He labelled Taronga Western Plains Zoo the “greatest place in the world”, and said it was about time the meerkats had a day of their own.
“Animals are great; they don’t cheat you, they don’t talk back to you, they’ll just go and lay down and if you’ve got the time to spend with them they do all sorts of different things,” he said.
“A week ago I went down to see the baby elephant and I couldn’t believe the baby was under the elephant and mum would lift her foot up like this and look around and then she’d put it down and she’d move a bit, you know?”
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The barbary sheep also “fascinate” him, he said, as he revels in watching them move, first one and then the rest, from shade spot to shade spot.
“And people say to me ‘fancy just watching that!’ But that’s part of life!”
He thanked the staff at Taronga Western Plains Zoo for supporting his passion for the species, and said he couldn’t speak highly enough of the keepers, including meerkat keeper Karen James.
“They’re very kind to me here,” Mr Ryan said.
“I’ve got a photos of a meerkat’s foot, at home, they also got me a coin from the Sydney zoo – meerkats are just mad to me.
“It’s the greatest zoo in the world, Dubbo zoo. People: keep on coming!”
Know a local person with a great story to tell? Email jennifer.hoar@fairfaxmedia.com.au or send a message at www.facebook.com/jenthejourno/
