Meerkat Information

The following are excerpts from two publications from the Meerkat Project:

Meerkats are desert-adapted, cooperative mongooses living in groups of 3-25 animals that typically include a dominant female that is responsible for more than 75% of all breeding attempts, a dominant male that fathers the majority of the offspring born in the group and a variable number of helpers of both sexes. Before pups are 3 weeks old they remain in the breeding burrow and are guarded by helpers, the majority of which are sexually mature but have not yet bred themselves. After this age, they travel with the group and are fed by all group members.

(Clutton-Brock et al., 2001)

Helpers of both sexes contribute to four distinct cooperative activities in their natal group: guarding pups at the natal burrow over the first month (babysitting), feeding 1-3 month-old pups with invertebrates and small vertebrates after they begin to forage with the group (pup feeding), renovating or extending breeding burrows and bolt holes (social digging), and watching for predators while other group member are foraging (raised guarding). Female helpers may also assist the dominant female in suckling her pups.

(Clutton-Brock et al., 2003)