:quality(80))
Meerkat
The meerkat is a small, charismatic carnivore native to southern Africa, found across parts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. It lives in arid savannas and desert landscapes, where its sandy‑grey coat and dark eye patches help reduce glare and provide camouflage under the harsh sun.
We have 5 females here at Newquay Zoo, you can find them next to the outdoor play area at the back of the zoo.
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Herpestidae
About the meerkat
Meerkats are skilled insectivores, feeding on beetles, larvae, scorpions, and other invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates when available. Their long claws are perfectly shaped for digging burrows and foraging beneath the surface. They are also known for their iconic behaviour of standing upright on their hind legs to scan for danger, using a rotating “sentry” system to keep the group safe.
These social animals live in tight‑knit groups of 10 to 40 individuals, known as mobs or clans. Within these cooperative societies, individuals work together to raise young, defend territory, and search for food, making meerkats one of the most socially complex small carnivores in Africa.
Conservation
The meerkat is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with populations generally stable across southern Africa. However, some local areas face habitat degradation caused by expanding agriculture and human development. Protected habitats and well‑managed conservation areas help safeguard the species and the delicate arid ecosystems they inhabit.