Introduction
This research paper investigates the meerkat, a mischievous-looking and charismatic mammal related to the mongoose. Meerkats have been the subject of four TV documentary series entitled “Meerkat Manor” – originally screened on UK TV but since re-broadcast in 160 countries (“From the makers of Meerkat Manor” n.d.). The focus of this paper is the intricately-organized and fascinating social lifestyle of the extended meerkat family community, which was also featured in the TV programmes.
The World of the Meerkat
Meerkats are quite small and cute animals, weighing about one kilogram – about the same as a squirrel. They are of variable color, from silver or gold to brown, with darker patches around the eyes, and are probably best known for their ability to stand perfectly upright like little soldiers, supported only on their hind legs, and staring into the distance around them. Meerkats are found in southern Africa, particularly in desert and grassland regions in the southwest part of Botswana, in Namibia, and in South Africa and in Angola and Lesotho (Bradford, 2014).
They are extremely social in nature and tend to live in groups comprising perhaps two or three families, maybe 30 or so individuals in total. Photographs of such a group, (see the Appendix), illustrate their unique charm and their apparent – though as yet unexplained – ready acceptance of a human presence. They live in underground burrows, to which they retire during the hottest part of the day and each night, surfacing each morning to forage for food. Sentries on guard stand for hours on their hind legs, watching for their principal predators such as eagles, hawks and jackals (Dougherty 2014). It is thought that this sentry duty might be almost exclusively for the benefit of the group, rather than simple self-preservation (“Research suggests meerkat predator-scanning behaviour is altruistic” 2013).
The meerkat species has an interesting and well-defined social structure. Each “mob” or “gang” of meerkats is led by an alpha male and an alpha female. The alpha male holds the breeding rights to the alpha female, and she is the only female in that group allowed to produce young. Subservient males and females tend to leave the group when they reach three years old to seek improved opportunities for breeding elsewhere. Furthermore, beta females may be driven away on a temporary basis when the alpha female is about to give birth (“Meerkats social structure” 2005).
A female meerkat is pregnant for 10 weeks, and usually gives birth to between one and four pups. It is not unknown for other milk-producing females to help the birth mother feed the pups – yet another fascinating aspect of meerkat society. The newborn pups are in great danger during their first four days of life; other females may kill them to give themselves a greater chance of producing their own pups. That is why the alpha female may evict other adult females from the group when birth of the pups is imminent. When they are between two and three weeks old, the pups emerge from the burrow for the first time. At this age they remain close by the burrow, guarded by “babysitter” meerkats. Then, at about three to four weeks old, the pups are gradually weaned, becoming acclimatized to the standard meerkat diet of insects and small animals including scorpions. In these early stages, the young meerkats are unskilled at foraging, and invariably beg prey from older meerkats who progressively teach the pups the needed survival skills. The alpha meerkats tend to live the longest, perhaps between six and ten years on average (“The meerkat’s life cycle.” 2007).
Conclusions
The research has revealed something of the extremely interesting life of meerkat groups, including their rigidly-enforced social structure and the way they appear to behave altruistically, always acting for the benefit of the group rather than for themselves alone. They are endearing and fascinating little creatures, and are readily recognized when depicted in “sentry” mode, standing perfectly upright with apparent ease.
Works Cited:
Bradford, Alina. (Sept. 2014). “Meerkat Facts.” Live Science. Web. Accessed 14 October 2014. URL: <http://www.livescience.com/27406-meerkats.html>.
Dougherty, Sarah. (Apr. 2014). “These adorable baby meerkats swarmed a photographer in Botswana.” Global Post. Web. Accessed 14 October 2014. URL: <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/science/wildlife-news/140414/adorable-baby-meerkats-photographer-botswana>.
“From the makers of Meerkat Manor.” (n.d.). Meerkat Manor Official Website. Web. Accessed 14 October 2014. URL: <http://www.meerkatmanor.co.uk/index.htm>.
“Meerkats social structure.” (2005). Meerkats .net. Web. Accessed 14 October 2014. URL: <http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm>.
“Research suggests meerkat predator-scanning behaviour is altruistic.” (Feb. 2013). Manchester Metropolitan University. Web. Accessed 14 October 2014. URL: <http://www.library.mmu.ac.uk/rwbb/2013/02/21/research-suggests-meerkat-predator-scanning-behaviour-is-altruistic/>.
“The meerkat’s life cycle.” (2007). Friends of the Kalahari Meerkat Project. Web. Accessed 14 October 2014. URL: <http://friends.kalahari-meerkats.com/index.php?id=lifecycle>.
Appendix
Meerkat Photographs
(Source: Burrard-Lucas Photography – URL: <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/science/wildlife-news/140414/adorable-baby-meerkats-photographer-botswana>.)
