Earthwatch Field Guide - The Kalahari Meerkat Project

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• Blocking: meerkat places its body between the food item/hole and competitor, or growls atthe competitor.• Pushing: Similar to blocking but with sustained physical contact between the competingindividuals.• Fighting: Meerkat bites the other in an attempt to win the food item.It is important to note what they are competing for and who the winner was, if this was clear (i.e. the onewho succeeded in getting the food item).12. Pup competitionPups actively compete for helpers whom they are foraging with. The high levels of aggression areprobably caused by the enormous benefit of early nutrition for the development of subsequent foragingability and thus reproductive success.This is similar to foraging competition, but occurs between two pups and can be for a food item, an adulthelper or space.Ensure you get the identity of the pups and the ultimate winner. If the fight is over an adult try to record whothis was.13. Lead callsIt is important that groups have some form of cohesion and/or mechanism of coordination. It is likely thatlead calls enable individuals (typically the dominants) to draw the group together and move.This can be difficult to see and hear, but occurs when one individual (usually a dominant or elder individual)tries to lead the group in a specific direction by giving high-pitched rolling calls. Try to get the identity of anymeerkat making lead calls to the group and note whether the group/pups follow.14. Leave/returnAdult male meerkats (excluding the dominant) often come and go from their own group as they try to matewith unrelated females in other groups, possibly even a dominant female! In addition, subordinate femalesmay be evicted from the group by the dominant female and consequently spend their time trying to getback into the group.Males typically come and go as they please but note what happens, particularly when they return. Femalesare usually chased from the group, and it is obvious when this happens, but keep a close eye out for themhanging around on the edge of the group.When evicted or roving meerkats return, pay attention to the group’s reaction. For example, when ameerkat was evicted: did the group give chase? If so, who lead the group? If a meerkat was returning, wasthe meerkat accepted back or chased away again?© Kalahari Meerkat Project, www.kalahari-meerkats.com 30
15. ‘IGI’ Inter group interactionsInter group interactions occur wherever two groups encounter each other, typically near territory borders,as maintaining control of foraging grounds as a safe home range for reproduction is very important formeerkats. Failure to do so can result in babysitting burrows being attacked by other groups and pupsbeing killed.The groups may react in the following fashion• Flee• Do a ‘war dance’ (bounce up and down with tail pointing upwards)• Chase• Fight (inevitable if neither group backs down or they have been taken bysurprise)Make sure you are ready! The meerkats sometimes run for as far as a kilometre. We have to stay withthem as much as possible.© Kalahari Meerkat Project, www.kalahari-meerkats.com 31
Page 1 and 2: Kalahari Meerkat ProjectEarthwatch
Page 4 and 5: 1.2. MEERKAT IDENTIFICATION: The
Page 6 and 7: 1.2.4. Litter codesEach litter of p
Page 8 and 9: are tolerant of people. Take partic
Page 10 and 11: 2. WALKING WITH MEERKATSAIM: The ai
Page 12 and 13: . The ‘save’ option should be h
Page 14 and 15: 4. FORAGING FOCALS4.1. OVERVIEWNote
Page 16 and 17: efore beginning or continuing a foc
Page 18 and 19: No. ofhelpersMorning andlunchweight
Page 20 and 21: 5. DRONGO SCANSAIM: Collect data on
Page 22 and 23: 6. BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS6.1. INVERTE
Page 24 and 25: and a range of other generalist bir
Page 26 and 27: APPENDIX I - Meerkat behavioursFor
Page 28 and 29: • Anal marking: Rubbing of the an

Earthwatch Field Guide - The Kalahari Meerkat Project

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