Picture: Barry Goodwin.

Two people have been arrested after the meerkat that disappeared from Wingham Wildlife Park was found dead in a dog waste bin.

It is claimed the six-year-old animal - the park's eldest boy meerkat - was snatched from its enclosure shortly after Christmas.

According to police, he was dumped in the bin after being run over by a car in Sandwich.

A 47-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man, both from Sandwich, have been arrested on suspicion of theft and possession of drugs.

The pair have been bailed pending further inquires until March 9.

Wingham Wildlife Park owner Tony Binskin has responded to criticism that the disappearance of the animal was not reported to the police earlier.

He said: "We didn't report it because we thought we could get him back without there needing to be a prosecution.

"When we realised he was gone from the park, we put an appeal out on our Facebook page."

Mr Binskin said he and the park's directors are discussing new safety measures like having more secure enclosures or installing CCTV.

"The thieves have ruined it for other visitors now," he said.

"We're often complimented on the way people can get so close to them and now that might be taken away," he added.