Meerkat Mania

The Meerkat is a member of the Mongoose family. It lives in a clan of up to 40 or 50 members which is led by an alpha male and an alpha female.

Their coat is a sandy colour with black or dark markings. They have black bands around their eyes in order to reflect the sun's glare.

Weight: 2lbs.
Height: 12 inches.
Tail length: up to 8inches long.
Life span: 12 to 14 years.
Communication: Sounds, scent and body language.
Range of sounds: More than 20 sounds. Alarm calls (enemies, weather systems), leading calls, feeding calls, foraging calls and sentry calls.

Meerkat Guarding by Petr Kratochvil

Meerkats mainly reside in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa.

The Kalahari Desert is approximately 10 times the size of the UK and sees very little rainfall on a yearly basis. Most of the desert is made up of soft and compact sand, brush, grassland (after the rains) and trees.

The temperature in the desert can reach 40C from October to April. Sand temperatures can reach 70C. Winter can be around 22C and the nights can be very cold at -10C.

Meerkats on the lookout by AJandfamily
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Martial Eagle:

A species of bird of prey under threat in parts of Africa.

This bird feeds on up to 403 different species of prey which include Meerkats. It lives in a wide range of habitats but prefers open grassland and savannah. They prefer large trees over forests.

It is also a scavenger and will readily feed on carrion.

Jackals:

This predator is quick, intelligent and agile. It feeds on carrion, insects, fruits, rodents but may also attack gazelles and impalas. They're extremely brave and will try and steal kills from other, bigger predators.

In all there are four types of Jackal which includes the Black-backed and the Golden Jackal.

Cobras:

Although Meerkats will mob these snakes in daylight, they are at risk of being bitten and succumbing to a venomous bite. Most cobras will reach 12 feet and there are many sub-species.

The asp or Egyptian Cobra is found most commonly in the Kalahari. Meerkats are immune to the venom of the King Cobra and will sometimes attack it for food. However, most snakes are a risk for the meerkat pups.

Agility often saves Meerkats from certain death from these snakes but some do occur.

Weather:

Meerkats hate the rain and this weather system brings a threat to the flooding of their burrows. All activities are placed on hold if it rains which includes foraging for food. Meerkats have numerous bolt holes in which they can retreat if danger of predators or weather strikes.

Other Meerkats:

Members of other Meerkat clans are a danger to Meerkat pups and fights do break out between rival clans. Smell is an important sense and any Meerkat that smells of a rival clan may be at risk of attack from its own clan.

A Family Affair

Meerkats live in a huge community of up to 40 members. Lone Meerkats rarely survive as it's imperative that sentries are available to keep an eye out for predators whilst others forage for food.

Most members of the clan are offspring of the alpha male and female. Subordinates are not usually permitted to breed for fear of putting the alpha pair's pups at risk of starvation.

All members of the clan take it in turns to baby sit the new-born pups and all members will teach the pups how to forage etc. Jobs include foraging, sentry duties, babysitting pups and sharing food.

Meerkats will groom one another, ridding each other of ticks and establishing a strong bond between each member.

Meerkats are active during the day and sleep during the cold nights, snuggled up to each other underground in their burrows.

Meerkats need to eat every few minutes, are sensitive to the cold and the rain. Food is found by digging holes in the sand after sniffing it out.

Meerkats 2010 Wall Calendar

Scorpions:

Venomous but the Meerkats are immune to the venom. Meerkats bite off the stinger and tail before eating the rest of the scorpion.

Beetles:

Meerkats feed on many different varieties of beetles which include the larvae. One type of beetle is usually left alone; the Dung beetle is vital for keeping the Meerkat's burrows clean and free of waste.

Centipedes/Millipedes:

Meerkats will drag a millipede along the ground to remove all traces of the chemical defences covering its body.

Tubers, fruit, nuts, small mammals, reptiles, snakes, worms, spiders, crickets etc. Water is provided by their diet.