“The last remaining mara hare has moved on . . .”

I wonder where he went.

Was he upset because Scampie the meerkat died aged twelve?

A good age for a meerkat I’d suggest.

Or was he miffed because a new milk snake is on display

in the Tropical House? Did he want to be there too

snug in the palm-tree warmth

hopping over all the lizards, showing off?

“The last remaining mara hare has moved on . . .”

Was his twitchy nose put out of joint

when the big-bellied seahorse and the four eyed fish

all bred in record numbers?

Did it make him sad that the baby male Rothschild’s giraffe named Kito

had to be put to sleep due to illness?

Was he jealous when two male takin, a loris, a spider monkey

and a pair of wattled cranes moved in?

Was that the last straw?

“The last remaining mara hare has moved on . . .”

I wonder if he’ll ever come back.

I hope, wherever he is

He is happy.