Slender Tailed Meerkat

Meerkats are diminutive mammals that inhabit the African desert, despite the claims of certain famous TV advertisement animals. Contrary to popular belief, they do not belong to the feline family but are actually part of the mongoose family.

These social creatures reside in sizable family groups referred to as mobs, which can range in size from 20 to 50 individuals. Working cooperatively, they ensure the safety and survival of all members within the family.

The dominant female within the group assigns specific roles to family members, such as sentry duty to keep a vigilant eye for potential dangers, digging tasks, hunting responsibilities, and even babysitting duties.

Females can give birth to as many as five offspring after an approximately eleven-week pregnancy. The entire family contributes to the nurturing and education of the young. Meerkats may be small in size, but they possess a fierce nature and fearlessly confront scorpions, which constitute a significant part of their diet.

About our meerkats

Regarding our meerkats, Kalahari and Timone were among the first to arrive at our park, initially serving as pets. Upon their arrival, they were unfamiliar with exploring their outdoor enclosure, digging, or performing sentry duties. However, they were joined by Mozart, our breeding male, who imparted the ways of being a meerkat to them.

Now, they exhibit all the natural behaviours expected of meerkats, with Kalahari even becoming a mother and successfully giving birth to several offspring.