Meerkats

As I told you, meerkats are native to the African continent and their deserts and dry savannas are found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and southwest Angola.

These small mammals are very social and generally live in groups consisting of two or three families (they can have 40 members) and whose leader is a female. They are animals of diurnal habits.

They are very organized and each member plays a role within the community which helps the survival of the group.

They live in burrows (with several exits to the outside) that they themselves build and that have an intricate network of tunnels that lead to the chambers (communicated with each other) where they take refuge when they feel threatened by a predator or during the rains.

One of the members of the group acts as a sentry, either during the day while doing their activities or during the night, when the rest of the members rest. Its function is to monitor and give notice in case of being in the presence of a threat. This sentry is in a high place standing on its hind legs to control the entire territory. When it detects a threat, it emits a sharp bark to warn the group to take refuge in the burrow chambers; the puppies automatically go under their mother's skirt, following her almost as they guide them to the burrow

They carry out their activities during the day and while some members of the group take care of the young people, others go out to look for food.

Younger members take advantage of rest hours to play, simulate fighting, practice digging burrows and try to mimic the behavior of larger members.
They are extremely protective animals of their offspring and we have seen in more than one documentary a mother in front of the snakes or standing between the raptors and their young when they try to catch them.