A third person has been charged over the theft of a baby meerkat from Perth Zoo, which has since been recovered and reunited with its mob.
The meerkitten was stolen in September when a month old and staff were unsure whether it had been taken by a visitor or snatched by a predatory bird.
It was found two days later during a search of a home in Beverley in WA's Wheatbelt region, about 130km east of Perth.
Police said on Wednesday they had charged a 31-year-old Beverley woman with possessing stolen property and she has been summonsed to appear before Northam Magistrates Court on December 10.
Jesse Ray Hooker was previously charged with stealing while his friend Aimee Cummins, also 23, was charged with receiving.
Hooker made his second appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was fined $4000 after pleading guilty.
The court heard he "fell in love" with the friendly newborn after it ran up to him and he "thought it would be cool as a pet".
So he reached over the waist-high glass barrier and grabbed it, hid it in a cooler bag and played loud music to muffle the sounds of its distressed cries.
After stopping in at McDonald's, the pair took the meerkitten home, adding it to a menagerie of four dogs and one cat.
Hooker's defence lawyer Chad Silver told reporters outside court it was his client's first visit to the zoo.
Mr Silver said the community anger over the theft was understandable but he urged people to use that energy positively by supporting the zoo with visits and donations.
He also represented Cummins, who did not appear in person, citing medical reasons and intense media pressure.
The magistrate was unimpressed and adjourned her matter until January 16, saying she must appear in person.
Mr Silver said Cummins would enter a plea then.
The zoo has been reviewing security around the meerkat enclosure, while the male meerkitten has been named Salama, which means 'safe' in the African dialect of Kiswahili.
There were fears he would be rejected by the other meerkats on his return but he was accepted.
Zoo staff said his absence caused the mob to become very unsettled.
Australian Associated Press
