Meerkats on Sentry Duty
The Meerkat clan at Edinburgh Zoo are really wonderful to watch & observe. Meerkats are native to South Africa and are small mongooses. They live around 12-14 years in the wild and are highly cooperative, with everyone in the group working together to gather food, look out for danger and look after the young. They are omnivores and mostly eat spiders, beetles, scorpions and caterpillars, although they will also eat birds, eggs and small reptiles. Fruit & plants are also an option.
They're highly social and can form packs of up to 30 individuals. They live in stony crevices and large burrow systems which provide a stable climate against harsh weather and heat/cold. They're active during the day and are always alert, scurrying back into their burrows if they sense any danger or threat. Pack members take turns to look out for danger and to look after pups. They're always vigilant for threats and there's always individuals who will stand guard on sentry duty scanning for threats.
www.adventuresinscotland.uk
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