Least Concern

Meerkat

Suricata suricatta

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Least Concern

IUCN Red List status ยท Population stable as of 2023

About the Meerkat

Meerkats are highly social mongooses famous for their sentinel behavior โ€” standing upright to scan for predators. They live in cooperative groups called mobs and teach their pups to handle prey. They are completely immune to many snake venoms.

Region

Southern Africa

Population

Unknown

Trend

Stable

Data Year

2023

Key Facts

GroupMob of 20โ€“30 individuals
Immune toScorpion & snake venom
DietInsects, scorpions, reptiles
Lifespan12โ€“14 years in wild

Threats to Survival

Habitat fragmentation

Road networks and fencing disrupt meerkat mob territories in the Kalahari.

Pet trade

Meerkats are illegally captured for the exotic pet trade.

Ecosystem Role

๐Ÿฆ‚

Pest control

Each meerkat consumes thousands of insects and scorpions annually, helping control pest populations in arid ecosystems.

Habitat Types

Kalahari DesertSemi-arid SavannahOpen Grassland

Found In

South AfricaNamibiaBotswanaZimbabwe

Why Africa's Wildlife Matters

Africa's megafauna are not just iconic โ€” they are ecosystem engineers. The loss of a single keystone species can trigger cascading collapses across entire biomes. Elephants create waterholes, lions regulate prey, and predators maintain the biodiversity that keeps Africa's grasslands and forests functioning.

20%

of Earth's bird species in Africa

25%

of mammals found in Africa

3,000+

endemic plant species at risk

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Funding Progress$4.5k / $12.0k

38% funded

Quick Stats

StatusLeast Concern
RegionSouthern Africa
Population trendStable