HONOLULU -- One of the Honolulu Zoo's African meerkat named Hulu has disappeared.

For about a week now, Kapa the meerkat has been missing his only partner. Kapa seemed overcome by the loss, zoo officials said.

The meerkat exhibit is popular at the zoo, especially after a meerkat starred in The Lion King, which opened on stage in Honolulu just about the time Hulu disappeared. Meerkats are also featured in one of cable television's popular shows "Meerkat Manor."

"He wouldn't have gone far," Honolulu Zoo Director Kenneth Redman said.

Meerkats are communal animal. Hulu would not have purposely wandered far from his home and friend Kapa, Redman said.

The zoo has set mongoose traps hoping the meerkat, a member of the mongoose family, can be caught.

Zoo officials said meerkats can give a nasty bite. That is why they doubt anyone stole the meerkat.

"They are not tame, and they are wild critters, and they would have fought and bit. So, that's not very likely," Redman said.

Although it is possible someone tried to grab one and it escaped onto the zoo grounds, officials said they doubt it could have escaped. The concrete lined enclosure prevents climbing or burrowing out. Zookeepers dug out all the meerkats' burrows in case it died underground.

"We gave a good thorough search, but still, you don't know. It could still be down there," Redman said.

If he Hulu is not dead, he is a male and castrated. That means there is no concern about him starting a new colony.