Meerkats are popular zoo animals, but their complex social needs are often poorly met in captivity. Understanding their requirements improves welfare in facilities worldwide.
Meerkats are small animals whose welfare needs are often underestimated in zoo planning. Their highly social nature means that group size and composition are welfare-critical. Inadequate digging substrate frustrates their natural burrowing behavior. The sentinel behavior they engage in is a welfare indicator — meerkats that do not have appropriate elevated positions from which to watch may show stress behaviors. Small enclosures with inadequate substrate and inappropriate group sizes are unfortunately common and represent genuine welfare failures.