Meerkat

About This Project

Always on the lookout!

Tiny members of the mongoose family, meerkats are known for their sentry-like behaviour. There is always one member of the clan on guard duty while the others get on with their daily tasks: if he spots a potential predator, he will warn the others with a loud bark! If the predator does attack, the clan members work together to defend themselves.

Highly active, meerkats love digging, searching for prey, playing and grooming each other.

You will see a group of 5 meerkats at La Barben. They will probably be busy digging in the sand, looking for food… or perhaps making a new tunnel!

Latin name: Suricata suricatta
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Herpestidae
Size: 25-35 cm, tail = 17.5-25 cm
Weight: 620-770 g
Lifespan: 12 years
Gestation: 2.5 months
Number of young: 2-5
Habitat: savannah
Diet: insectivorous, partly carnivorous and partly herbivorous
Distribution: western side of southern Africa, from Namibia and the extreme south of Angola to Botswana and South Africa.
Conservation status: not at risk

Category
Mammalia