Meerkat
Suricata suricatta
Least Concern
IUCN Red List status · Population stable as of 2023
About the Meerkat
Meerkats are highly social mongooses famous for their sentinel behavior — 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
Data Year
2023
Key Facts
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
Pest control
Each meerkat consumes thousands of insects and scorpions annually, helping control pest populations in arid ecosystems.
Habitat Types
Found In
Why Africa's Wildlife Matters
Africa's megafauna are not just iconic — 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
Help spread the word about the Meerkat
More from Southern Africa
Adopt a Meerkat
Your monthly support directly funds this animal's protection.
38% funded
Sentinel Ally
$10/month
Protect Kalahari meerkat habitat
- ✓ Digital certificate
- ✓ Monthly update
Mob Guardian
$20/month
Full mob habitat protection program
- ✓ All Sentinel Ally perks
- ✓ Mob update
- ✓ Photo print
Quick Stats