Meerkats Form New Family
Posted at 11:53 am September 22, 2006 by Janet Hawes
Regular visitors to the Children’s Zoo (CZ) at the San Diego Zoo might remember visiting with Bahati, the South African meerkat. Bahati is an important member of our collection because he is one of our valued animal ambassadors. Sadly, his brother and sister died last year. This left 9-year-old Bahati alone, which is unfortunate for an animal as social as a meerkat.
When two meerkats pups needed hand rearing, we were excited that we might be able to provide Bahati with new meerkat buddies. Early on, a plan was formed to introduce the young meerkats, sister Kala and brother Hari (pictured above), to Bahati. We learned, however, that meerkat introductions are far from simple. Since meerkats live in big families and are extremely discriminating, they can be tough when introduced to new kinfolk. These intelligent animals can be rather clannish and even aggressive when they encounter someone new. We listened nervously when stories were relayed about introductions attempted in the past that turned out badly, with unsuccessful outcomes.
Hoping for the best, we began our attempts at introduction slowly. First, we placed the young meerkats within eye and earshot of Bahati. The youngsters were allowed to explore Bahati’s area while he watched from a distance. Later, the three were leashed and taken out on a walk together on CZ grounds. Early signs didn’t look great; Bahati seemed intent on attack and destruction.
On September 15, Nicki Boyd, CZ animal care supervisor, saw an opportunity. When seated in the CZ meerkat exhibit with Bahati in a crate and the two young meerkats at play, Nicki observed Bahati give a friendly rub when the youngsters approached the crate. She saw this gesture repeated when Bahati was released while the youngsters rested inside a crate. With her heart beating fast, Nicki decided that this was the moment we’d been hoping for. Holding her breath, Nicki opened the crate door. Bahati immediately began friendly rubbing and the youngsters invited rowdy play.
Our newly formed meerkat crowd has been together since that day. Bahati is tolerant, even when he is tired from the persistent antics of his young buddies. He rests, exhausted but happy, as the two youngsters pester him for more play. The animals sleep together in a gigantic ball and only bicker mildly at mealtime when the food pans are first placed down. It is satisfying to see that the lives of all three of these intelligent and fascinating animals were made better just by being together.
Janet Hawes is a senior keeper in the Primate Nursery at the Children’s Zoo.
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September 22nd, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Congratulations on a job well done, Nicki! It took courage and a sharp eye to sieze the right moment to make everyone’s life better. All three Meerkats are happier, and probably healthier, because of your quick thinking.
We look forward to more blogs about the new ” family.”
September 22nd, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Janet, what a beautiful story! I can only imagine your original concerns and ultimate joy when the youngsters were accepted happily by Bahati. What a happy ending!! You folks are wonderful!! I think of you and your fellow nursery surrogate moms every time I visit the bonobos and see little Makasi (hope that’s right) playing with his adopted family or read about the baby cheetah orphans now up at the WAP cheetah propogation center.
September 22nd, 2006 at 1:19 pm
What a beautiful story! Janet, what is the life span for meerkats in captivity? It sounds like the SDZ staff learned even more from this experience than I did, and I learned a lot!
September 22nd, 2006 at 3:58 pm
I am so glad to hear that Bahati is accepting the two babies, now he won’t be so lonely any more. Are they out where we can see them in the CZ, I would love to see them together? Thank you for letting us know about the baby meerkats and how they are doing.
September 22nd, 2006 at 8:29 pm
Oh how awesome!! I’m happy it worked out for all 3! A new little family has been formed.
I love Meerkats, especially after being introduced to them on Animal Planet’s Meerkat Manor.
Thank you for the great story!! I look forward to hearing more about these awesome little guys!!
September 27th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Beautifully written and informative….and a happy ending, too! Thanks!
September 28th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
Had a dream about meerkats last night but I had never even seen what one looked like! Had only heard of the term on this website. Had to check out the site tonight to learn about meerkats. Interesting. Wonder what I will dream about tonight. Thanks, SDZ!
October 1st, 2006 at 1:07 pm
What a wonderful, heartwarming outcome. Please publish photos of the New Family together soon. The meerkats have so much to teach us, if only the Human race would watch and learn from them.
December 18th, 2006 at 3:38 pm
How about a ” Meer-Kam” . The Indianapolis Zoo has one. They are very entertaining. I love that Bahati has some playmates now but he needs a bigger mob. I think the introductions were handled beautifully. But they need to expand from three to at least five.
May 5th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
the babys are so cute if they need a good home i am thar . and if they are for sale i am hear to. thank you and if you no some one hwo has babys for sale i am thar. Rebecca Lynne
August 31st, 2007 at 8:36 am
Yes, Mary Laiuppa I would like a meerkat webcam at the Wild Animal Park, but no, let’s not steal the name of the Indianapolis Zoo’s meerkat camera. Let’s think of a better name of the meerkat cam if it were to be installed at the animal park. If the animal park installs it, then it would be the second cam to be installed at the animal park (the first one to be installed at the Wild Animal Park was the elephant cam). I also found out that the San Diego Zoo, which is thirty-five miles south, also has meerkats. If I were a San Diego Zoo employee, I would install another webcam facing the zoo’s meerkat exibit, making it the fourth to be installed at the zoo (the polar bear, ape, and giant panda cams are at the San Diego Zoo, too). If that happens, then there would be six webcams total on the site.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:34 am
Hello!
I have just read that private citizens in the U.S. cannot legally own a meerkat. Is there anyway to change this law? I know I could care for them responsibily and love them.
Please help! I could take care of about five of meerkats.
Thanks!
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:52 pm
helloo cathy yes they are illegal without a proper license you need to apply for a license to be able to have a few or else if you dont have a license you can get in alot of trouble hope this helped thanks