All information about the meerkat

What is a meerkat?

The meerkat is a small predator belonging to the family of mongooses (Herpestidae). A total of fourteen other genera are related to the meerkats. Those genera, in turn, are further divided into 34 species. That's another big family!

In this family, the meerkats have their own genus (Suricata). Another animal from this family you can also encounter in Safaripark Beekse Bergen, namely the zebra mongoose (Mungos mungo). This is a cousin of the meerkat

Meerkats are very similar to mongooses, especially the zebra mongoose. Yet these animals are not the same. Ranger Stijn can explain this incredibly well! Are you watching?

Meerkat or meerkat?

There is a lot of confusion about the name of the meerkat. In English, meerkat is 'meerkat'. In Dutch, there is also a 'meerkat'. Only this is not at all the same as a meerkat, but a meerkat is a genus group from the family of Old World monkeys! So a meerkat in Dutch is really something completely different, but because the English name for meerkat is 'meerkat', this can be quite confusing!

What does a meerkat look like?

A meerkat is known for its upright posture. They then stand on their hind legs, leaning on their tail and keeping a close eye on their surroundings. A meerkat has muscular legs with long, sharp nails. With these, they can dig whole systems of corridors. A meerkat is therefore very strong and can dig out its own weight in sand in less than a minute! If you look closely at the meerkat's head, there is a black rim around its eyes. These spots serve as sunglasses against the bright sunlight.

A meerkat is often on the lookout and can therefore see particularly well. This allows it to detect its enemy from a great distance. Despite its good visiona meerkat is nearsighted. This means that it cannot see well up close. Within a radius of six meters, a meerkat cannot focus well. This is why scent is very important to meerkats. They recognize each other by smell. Meerkats therefore have a very good nose. It also comes in handy when searching for prey. The meerkat has another handy trick with which he is adapted to digging in the sand. Namely, he can close his ears! This keeps soil and sand from getting into his ears when digging.

Where do meerkats live?

The habitat of meerkats are dry areas in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Their distribution depends on soil type and firm to hard soils are preferred. They are very social animals and therefore live in groups of about thirty meerkats.

A born digger

Meerkats are excellent diggers! Their long nails act as a kind of shovel with which they dig burrows. They can dig burrows up to three meters underground. The burrows consist of several chambers and have seventy to as many as ninety entrances! They serve as protection from predators as well as from the extreme temperature differences in their habitat. For example, it always stays around 23°Celsius in the burrows, but can be between -4° and 40° Celsius outside! They often live together with ground squirrels. They then benefit from the digging work of the ground squirrels.

The reproduction of meerkats

In meerkats, only the alpha female gives birth to young. An alpha female is the leader of the group. In some cases, it does happen that the other females also have young. After 11 weeks, the female gives birth to two to five young. The young are born blind. The first two weeks they remain in the burrow. Around the third week, they slowly come out of the burrow. They are watched by the mother or by other meerkats who are watching. After about six weeks, the young eat solid food and when they are about sixteen weeks old, the young are independent. Meerkats live to be about 10 to 15 years old.

Long corridors

Meerkats live underground in long corridors. These corridors consist of different rooms. For example, there is a "bedroom" and there are "toilet rooms. The corridors protect the meerkats from the cold at night and their enemies, such as birds of prey.

Is the meerkat an endangered species?

The meerkat is not an endangered species and can even be found in homes in its habitat!

Conservation

Fortunately, the meerkat's status is safe. But unfortunately, many of the species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

What do meerkats eat?

Meerkats look very cute, but they are small predators! So they eat scorpions, eggs, small rodents, insects, as well as some plant matter. A meerkat gets moisture from its food so it does not need to drink much.

Want to know more about meerkats, their appearance and what they eat? Then check out this Ranger Request where ranger Floor talks more about this!

The behavior of a meerkat

Meerkats are very social animals. They live in groups that can consist of up to thirty animals. The area of their territory can have as much as one and a half to five square kilometers. They live in a hierarchy. All meerkats have their own task, such as keeping watch, looking for food or looking after the young. The watchers have an important job. They keep an eye on the surroundings and if there is danger, they sound the alarm. Then all meerkats flee into their burrows.

What kind of sound does a meerkat make?

A meerkat makes different sounds. These sounds are a means of communication between all the meerkats. When they sound the alarm, they make a kind of whistling sound. The meerkats also make a barking sound. This means, "Run for your life! During danger, the meerkats work together to chase the enemy away. If the enemy stays, the meerkats go on the attack. They can bite and spit very hard.

In the Safari Park you can hear the sounds very well. Will you come and listen too?