Meerkats are highly social cooperative breeders with complex social hierarchies. Zoo management must balance dominance dynamics and behavioral enrichment for good welfare outcomes.
Meerkat welfare in zoos is primarily a social management challenge given the complexity of their cooperative breeding system and the potential for lethal intragroup aggression. Dominant female suppression of subordinate female reproduction through hormonal and behavioral mechanisms can escalate to pup killing — zoo managers must monitor reproductive status and social dynamics carefully. Providing multiple retreat areas allows subordinate animals to escape dominant aggression temporarily. Foraging enrichment that spreads food across the exhibit and requires digging simulates natural foraging behavior and reduces food competition. Thermal management is important — meerkats thermoregulate through sunbasking and huddling and require warm areas in temperate zoo climates. Sentinel behavior is a natural indicator of positive welfare and should be observed regularly.