Taxonomic name: Suricata suricatta

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)

Wild Range: Western parts of southern Africa, in rock crevices or in large burrow systems in plains

Diet: Primarily beetles, butterflies, moths, and other insects

Longevity in the wild: 14 years

Size: 29cm (plus a 19cm tail)

Weight: 0.62-0.97 kg

Fun fact: Meerkats can eat scorpions, and they've developed a natural immunity to their venom! The largest reported meerkat burrow was 25 by 32 m (82 by 105 ft) with as many as 90 openings.

APZ location: Kinsmen Discovery Centre

Conservation Story: The Kalahari Meerkat Project, launched in 1993, is one of the most detailed long-term animal studies ever conducted. Meerkats are highly social and cooperative, with a scout to watch over the group as they forage, and the objective of the project is to contribute to our understanding of how these cooperative behaviours evolved. The project has also helped to restore and protect biodiversity around meerkat habitat, benefiting all species in the ecosystem.