The scenario unfolds in Malaga about 10 days ago during my week-long vacation with friends. While casually walking along the promenade, we made the decision to discover one of Malaga's more secluded beaches, a location I hadn't previously explored during my visits to the city. At that time, my preference was to explore other places and towns.

As we walked, something ancient, hairy, and distinctly unusual caught our eye as it moved across the sand. Upon closer inspection, we realized it was a real-life meerkat, reminiscent of Timon from Disney's "The Lion King," but alive and breathing. Yes, his name was indeed Timon.

Timon appeared quite comfortable with human company, displaying a boldness that one wouldn't expect from a wild animal. The lady accompanying him mentioned that she had been caring for Timon for about two years. Before my friend scooped him up, he was busy digging holes, presumably in search of food. It was quite amusing when, as she cuddled him, Timon made a playful attempt to nip at her nose. His owner explained that this behavior stemmed from his constant belief that everything around him was edible. Imagine a perpetually hungry meerkat – quite a humorous thought!

While I'm not sure if domesticating meerkats is a common practice, given their natural habitat in the wild and tendency to live in large groups, Timon didn't seem to mind the arrangement much. However, I still believe that wild animals, like Timon, belong in their natural habitats rather than in urban settings, no matter how much we may desire a companion like him.

Interestingly, during our time with Timon, he didn't emit the typical sound one associates with meerkats. It would have been really cool to hear it live. We eventually continued our journey to the beach, while Timon and his owner continued their routine of hole-digging and leisurely walks.
When you're in Spain, keep your eyes open; you might stumble upon something unusual and interesting. Enjoy