Meerkats are small social mongooses requiring complex cooperative group management, appropriate substrate for burrowing, and thermal choices to maintain good welfare in captivity.
Meerkat welfare in zoos depends on maintaining appropriately sized and structured social groups with clear dominance hierarchies and cooperative breeding opportunities. Small or socially disrupted groups fail to show natural sentinel and alloparenting behaviors, indicating reduced welfare. Substrate management is critical — meerkats need deep enough soil for burrowing, which is often underestimated. Thermal gradient provision allows natural thermoregulation as meerkats are sensitive to cold. The species adapts well to good captive management and can thrive in appropriately designed exhibits that meet their core social and behavioral needs.