Meerkat - Newcomer

African animals

Predators

Meerkats are small, charming creatures that live in large colonies of up to 50 individuals. They have an organised alarm system against predator attacks, where one or more group members stand guard on a high vantage point. In case of danger, the guard warns with loud calls so that the group can seek shelter in their underground burrows. Meerkat groups are very protective of their territory and violent fights can occur if other groups come too close or if any intruder is too curious. When it comes to reproduction, only the dominant pair in the colony has pups. While the parents are out hunting for food, other group members look after the pups. Meerkats stand facing the sun and warm themselves thanks to their dark and sparsely-haired bellies. If you have patience, you can observe our meerkats standing guard, hunting insects, or sunbathing their bellies, just as they do out in the wild. Today, the meerkat is not considered endangered and no special conservation efforts are underway.