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Compare The Meerkat Toy Is Not Proof Of Car Insurance, Police Inform Driver

Just So You Know, Your Fluffy Meerkat Toy Is Not Proof Of Car Insurance
Sara C Nelson
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Compare the Market, if you’re reading you can clock this up as a massive PR win.

A driver who was pulled over by police in Surrey attempted to convince officers he had vehicle insurance by pointing out he had a Compare the Meerkat fluffy toy at his house.

But it didn’t fly with the @SurreyRoadCops, who tweeted on Monday:

“PNC says no insurance driver says “It must be insured I have my Meerkat at home” Meerkats are not proof of insurance!”

The intensely irritating meerkat ‘Aleksandr Orlov’ – and his family - have become the firm’s mascots in recent years.

Said to hail from Russian aristocracy, the cravat-wearing mammal is now a TV phenomenon and social media rockstar with 814,000 Facebook fans and 66,000 Twitter followers.

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Aleksandr Orlov has become the mascot of Compare the Market

He’s also a best-selling author, with his autobiography ‘A Simple’s Life’ outselling both Katie Price and Tony Blair's efforts.

Some would say Orlov revolutionised the British advertising industry – as well as promoted his species to national status.

The original soft toy in sale at Harrods was sold out before it even made it to the store.

The One Animal That's Cuter Than A Sloth
They Wear Eye Shadow(01 of13)
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Those big, dark eyes. That head-furze. The EARS. Makes sense that this baby meerkat is taking cuteness seriously: These animals reach maturity at age 1, so they have to maximize their youthful good looks while they can.Flickr user rofanator knows how to capture meerkat action. (credit:Flickr User rofanator)
They Look Thoughtful(02 of13)
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Hey, you floppy bunnies out there, look at that adorable meerkat POSTURE. So alert, like a little A+ student. (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
They Have Mona Lisa Smiles(03 of13)
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Hey girl. I'd like to ritually groom you. Come join my foraging party. I'm no roving male. Trust me. (credit:Flickr User Chester Zoo)
They Form Communities(04 of13)
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Meerkats -- like this group from the Auckland Zoo -- live together in colonies of 20 to 30. When they see each other after a separation, they lick each other's faces. Cute points: 1,000. (credit:Ashleigh Thompson, Wikimedia Commons)
They Preen(05 of13)
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This meerkat is probably standing sentry so the others in her colony can forage, but doesn't it look like she's just mincing about? "What? This old fur? Why, I only wear this when I don't care how I look!" (credit:Wikimedia Commons)
They Cuddle(06 of13)
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Recipe for a rough day: Look at this picture of a triple-cuddle at the Melbourne Zoo. Imagine you're the middle meerkat. Repeat as necessary. (credit:Stephen Shaw)
They Take Fun Seriously(07 of13)
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The scampering clan at Brooklyn's Prospect Park Zoo stays frisky with toys like this boomer ball. Get this: In the wild, some meerkats will stand sentry while the others play, so they don't have to be all distracted worrying about getting eaten. Do you know anyone who makes playfulness such a high priority? (credit:Suzanne Bolduc, Wildlife Conservation Society)
They Model Confidence(08 of13)
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Meerkat young are known to show off. Here, a couple of pups at the Butterfly House in South Yorkshire chew the scenery.Check out the rest of Northern Soul's Flickr photostream for even more baby 'kat snuggles. (credit:Flickr User Northern Soul)
They Nap Standing Up(09 of13)
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Well, at least this teensy infant meerkat seems to be napping standing up. Either way, our response is, "Awww." P.S. Matt Biddulph has lots more zoo-animal cuteness on his Flickr photostream. (credit:Flickr User Matt Biddulph)
They Are Deep(10 of13)
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This noble view of our favorite mongoose-relative suggests that not only are meerkats darling and fluffy, they also have big, dreamy thoughts. (Okay, or maybe they are just always on alert.) Dave Jackson's Prolific IT photostream on Flickr is full of bright, lovely animal pics like this one. (credit:Flickr, Prolific IT)
They Give Piggyback Rides(11 of13)
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Meerkats babysit each other's offspring. And sometimes a meerkat that has not had a baby will lactate to feed another's young. I mean, wouldn't you? Look at that little buddy. John Bennett has many moments of meerkat cuteness on his Flickr photostream. (credit:Flickr User johnb/Derbys/UK)
They Snorgle(12 of13)
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"Mama?""Yes, Baby?""Could we be cuter?""I don't know. I guess we could put on beanies?""Okay. But let's cuddle more first."Thanks rofanator, for capturing the cuteness at Tropical World in Leeds -- and sharing via Flickr. (credit:Flickr User rofanator)
They Keep It Real(13 of13)
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How can I guarantee that meerkats lower your blood pressure? Because my kids and I visit the crew at the Prospect Park Zoo -- where I took this picture -- almost weekly. Usually the frisky meerkats are racing around, but sometimes one of them just sits still and stares right into your eyes, like, "What?" (credit:Amy Shearn)
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