Meerkat
Suricata suricatta
Meerkats show a pronounced territorial behavior. They defend an area of up to 15 km2. In this area they build 6 to 10 burrows, which consist of a chamber, to which several meter-long corridors lead. There they sleep, seek shelter and raise their young.
During the search for food, at least one animal always keeps watch. They look for a good vantage point on hills or trees. If danger threatens, the others are warned with sharp barks or growls. Although the guards sound the alarm, they themselves are usually the first to disappear into the saving burrow. Overnight, the animals lose up to 5% of their body weight, which makes the search for food during the day all the more important.
| Related to | Carnivora, Mongoose |
| Habitat | Grassland and scrubland |
| Mode of life | Diurnal |
| Social structure | Groups from 10 to 30 animals |
| Diet | Insects, invertebrates, small mammals and reptiles |
| Weight | 0.5 to 1 kg |
| Mating season | all year round, depending on food supply |
| Gestation time | 11 Weeks |
| Litter size | Up to 5 young |
| Age of sexual maturity | At approx. 9 months to one year |
| Life expectancy | Up to 23 years |
| At Zurich Zoo since | 2020 |
Distribution
Animal Voice
- Alarm "ground predator", far to medium close (50-200m)
- Alarm "snake or predator droppings", large excitation
- Alarm "snake or predator droppings", medium excitation
- Alarm "predator", far to medium close (200-1000m)
Source: Kalahari Meerkat Project, University of Zurich
Sponsors
| A. + F. Lötscher, Luzern | |
| D. Schaible, Löhningen | |
| M. Blatter, Bülach | |
| E. Mettler, Küsnacht | |
| St. Büchler, Zullwil | |
| M. Schwab, Kloten | |
| F. Kälin, Schindellegi | |
| P. Keller-Gross + A. Keller, Kreuzlingen | |
| N. Kasprzak, Oftringen | |
| D. Meyer Saegesser, Baar | |
| St. Fischer, Gossau ZH | |
| A. Ensle, Lenzburg | |
| B. E. Alder, Ermenswil | |
| Ch. + A. Schwab, Urdorf | |
| M. Widmer, Zollikon | |
| R. Bühler, Zürich | |
| M. Hudowernig, Rebstein | |
| M. Erdmann, Männedorf | |
| S. Schenk, Langnau b. Reiden | |
| B. Kunz-Heldstab, Fläsch | |
| S. Keim, Regensdorf | |
| E. Rübel, Zürich | |
| S. Schurter, Thalwil | |
| M. Rüfenacht, Aristau | |
| H. Tierbach, Pfäffikon ZH | |
| B. Joggi + M. Grossmann, Zürich | |
| I. + P. Zambonin, Uerikon | |
| M. Isler, Oberglatt | |
| S. Nemeth, Glattpark (Opfikon) | |
| F. Tomanek, Zürich | |
| P. Tomanek, Zürich | |
| B. Barcal, Stallikon | |
| J. Villard, Biel | |
| S. F. Prinzen, Dällikon | |
| S. Berger, Heimenschwand | |
| St. Fankhauser, Hausen AG | |
| M. Walser, Zürich | |
| V. Oronos, Männedorf | |
| P. Jolliet, Winterthur | |
| M. Henzi, Seengen | |
| N. + H. Hässig-Weber, Buchberg | |
| E. Schmitter, Richterswil | |
| B. Schwob, Rüschlikon | |
| M. Breu, Tann | |
| M. Elmer, Dübendorf | |
| M. + S. + L. + J. Schmidli, Effretikon | |
| M. Weiss, Wallisellen | |
| N. Bösch, Glattpark | |
| Familie M. Müller, Wohlenschwil | |
| C. + A. Fritzsche, Zürich | |
| Ch. Kunz, Wald | |
| P. + I. Huber-Kappeler, Schmerikon | |
| E. Frank, Winterthur | |
| L. Frey, Schöftland | |
| G. Kistler, Zürich | |
| Th. Albrecht, Grüt | |
| M. Berner, Wabern | |
| R. Staudenmaier, Adlikon bei Regensdorf | |
| C. Müller, Aarburg | |
| N. Frei Pisaturo, Unterägeri | |
| C. Christen, Wiesendangen | |
| R. Bancroft, Schaffhausen | |
| L. Holderegger, Theilingen | |
| K. Zwyssig, Rotkreuz | |
| R. Winkler, Oberrieden | |
| S. Schmid, Roggwil | |
| S. Radeck, Uster | |
| Scout24 Schweiz AG, Flamatt | |
| Scout24 Schweiz AG, Flamatt | |
| W. Müller, Fehraltorf | |
| M. Buchsbaum, Glattfelden | |
| G. Lindemann, Luzern | |
| S. Kamm | |
| Familie A. Felder, Luzern | |
| E. Schneider, Thalwil | |
| E. Frick, Zürich | |
| Netrics Zürich AG, Opfikon | |
| B. + D. + S. Helbling, Winterthur | |
| K. Kuberan, Bengaluru | |
| G. + Th. Rutschmann, Zürich | |
| M. Schmeier, Rotkreuz | |
| D. Beckert, Bergdietikon | |
| A. Pretali, Tagelswangen | |
| M. Weng, Kleinandelfingen | |
| M. Papastergios + St. Pedevilla, Zürich | |
| Th. Alder, Hombrechtikon | |
| R. Schaub, Wallisellen | |
| P. Hoffmann, Wallisellen | |
| B. Meier, Adlikon bei Regensdorf | |
| O. Clerc, Adlikon bei Regensdorf | |
| T. Clerc, Adlikon bei Regensdorf | |
| P. Rufer, Uerikon | |
| C. Wettstein, Meilen | |
| A. Zeder, Luzern | |
| M. Lässer, Ennetbaden | |
| A. Guyer und M. Kis, Bachenbülach | |
| C. Güerlet, Lützelflüh | |
| Y. Böhme, Bad Zurzach | |
| C. Schneider, Zürich | |
| S. Gisler, Zürich | |
| K. Orzechowski, Berlin | |
| A. Schätti, Menziken | |
| I. Rau, Zürich | |
| A. Meyer, Brugg | |
| E. Janser, Winterthur | |
| V. + D. Stava, Zürich | |
| Familie Bühlmann, Zürich | |
| D. Imhof, Hörhausen | |
| C. Hofer, Raleigh USA | |
| B. Hofer, Raleigh USA | |
| J. Hofer, Raleigh USA | |
| E. von Rohr, Seuzach | |
| M. + P. Tantanini, Bülach | |
| K. Hilpert, Hofstetten | |
| S. Kunz, Geroldswil | |
| St. Jaissle, Kilchberg | |
| E. Müller-Hofer Zürich | |
| U. à Porta, Thalwil | |
| S. + P. Geiser, Meilen | |
| S. M. Kaiser, Zürich | |
| O. Angehrn, Wallisellen | |
| S. + A. Aebi, Gümligen | |
| B. Ripplinger, Zürich | |
| M. Kämpf, Nürensdorf | |
| B. Fernandez, Bülach | |
| L. Boos, Roggwil TG | |
| I. + R. Zingre, Uster | |
| C. + S. Schroedter, Wädenswil | |
| A. Howald, Bern | |
| R. Simon, Zürich | |
| H. Meili, Dietlikon | |
| M. Krähemann, Braunau | |
| C. Hofer, Raleigh USA | |
| S. Eberhard, Watt | |
| B. Hofstetter, Luzern | |
| D. Nyffenegger, Kleinbösingen | |
| St. Stüssi, Flüelen | |
| T. Ryser, Chur | |
| T. Wirsig, Würenlos | |
| S. Egli, Gossau SG | |
| N. Visentini, Innerberg | |
| A. Wahrenberger, Opfikon | |
| E. Gamer, Wetzikon | |
| M. Hübner + K. Sulmoni, Bosco Luganese | |
| J. Bucher, Dällikon | |
| J. Wittweiler, Oberweningen | |
| St. Y. Hegglin, Zug | |
| M. Wettstein, Luzern | |
| A. Kohler, Unterägeri | |
| N. Gadient, Burgdorf | |
| L. Mora, Cademario | |
| M. Hälg, Stallikon | |
| S. Linder, Unterkulm |
