A group of meerkats is called a ‘clan’. But other acceptable terms include ‘gang’ and ‘mob’, which somehow don’t seem appropriate to describe the sweet family scene in our image. Here in the Namib Desert in southern Namibia, parent and pups look like they are going in for a group hug. It’s this kind of behaviour, and our tendency to think of it in human terms, that make meerkats so endearing. It’s also what prompts many field studies of these sociable animals. With 20 to 30 meerkats in an average clan, they work together to ensure the safety and health of all members.
– Microsoft
