Meerkat cooperation
... No meerkat wants to be caught far from a burrow hole when an eagle or a cobra appears. ... Meerkat social behavior is interesting to humans because they are “among the most cooperative-operative mammals on earth (Clutton-Brock, 2002). ... This theory is true in most cases, but it doesn’t entirely explain meerkat behavior. ... Although instances of this are quite rare (Slater, 216), this model seems to fit meerkat behavior because every member of the group will eventually benefit from a larger group size when healthy pups are raised (Kreb, 330). ... The major benefit of meerkat cooperative living is having help with the raising of pups. ... Threats to young pups not only include predators, but also attack from neighboring meerkat groups (Clutton-Brock, 2002). ... There is strong evidence to suggest that a high helper to pup ratio has benefits for weight gain, growth, and survival of meerkat pups (Clutton-Brock, Russel, 2001). ... Meerkat breeding females actually contribute little more than nursing initially (Doolan, 1999). ... Like the ground squirrel, the meerkat guard will pick a high vantage point and then proceed to emit a low, steady beeping signaling that all is well.