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A group of meerkats were seen scampering along Southend seafront last night after they escaped from a nearby zoo.

Videos circulating on social media taken by shocked onlookers showed the critters running along Marine Parade, away from their home at the Sealife Adventure Centre.

It has now emerged that an intruder broke into the zoo and destroyed the purpose-built meerkat enclosure.

Staff at the centre were alerted by an intruder alarm and CCTV images. The company, which also owns Adventure Island, has offered a cash reward for information that could lead to an arrest of the individual responsible.

A statement released by Sealife Adventure Wild read: "An idiot decided to break in to Sealife Adventure Wild, and proceeded to wreck the purpose built meerkat enclosure, allowing the meerkats to escape onto the Seafront putting both our meerkats and the public at risk.

"We would urge anyone with any information about this crime to come forward, and to this end are offering a reward of £1000 along with a Sealife Adventure and Adventure Island Annual pass for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for this crime.

(Image: Sealife Adventure)

"Out on the seafront the meerkats, who were born and raised at Tropical Wings before making Sealife Adventure their new home, would have felt more panic at being in an alien environment where they could come to harm.

"Any animal in distress is potentially dangerous – they don’t understand that people are trying to help – and meerkats have a powerful bite!"

(Image: Sea-Life Adventure)

Meerkat facts Meerkats are African mammals, roughly the size of a squirrel

The meerkats at Southend Sealife Adventure grew up in the, now defunct, Tropical Wings in South Woodham Ferrers

They joined the centre in 2017, which was already and established aquarium with sting rays and sharks

Meerkats live on a diet of insects, spiders and scorpions

For safety, packs of meerkats will stand on guard together side by side on a high viewpoint

The meerkats were luckily found and returned home by staff late last night (July 12), with help from nearby police officers and Adventure Island staff.

The last meerkat to be rounded up was found hiding by Adventure Island's mini-golf kiosk.

A spokesperson for the centre added: "Our team were magnificent throughout this incident – well rehearsed plans and protocols swung into action efficiently, our team went above and beyond the call of duty and we are eternally grateful for all of their efforts."