World Meerkat Day started in Dubbo, Australia. It was an initiative of Karen Ellis, the meerkat keeper at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and it has now become a day to heighten awareness of meerkats at several world zoos. She felt that lots of animals had a day, but meerkats didn't and as they were her favourite animal she decided to instigate it.
Meerkats are mongooses famed for their upright posture. They often stand on their rear legs and gaze alertly over the southern African plains where they live. Mothers can even nurse their young while standing.
Meerkats work together in numbers. A few will typically serve as lookouts, watching the skies for birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles, that can snatch them from the ground. A sharp, shrill call is the signal for all to take cover. While a few individuals guard the group, the rest busy themselves foraging for the foods that make up their varied diet. Meerkats will eat insects, lizards, birds, and fruit. When hunting small game, they work together and communicate with purring sounds.
Meet meerkats first then read about their antics!
• Meerkats by Katie Woolley
• Meerkats by James Maclaine
• Meerkats by Laura Marsh
• Meerkats by Valerie Bodden
• Baby Meerkats by Ginjier L. Clarke
• Meet the Meerkat by Darrin Lunde
• Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett
• Meerkat Splash by Aura Parker
• Little Meerkat by Aleesah Darlison
• Meerkat Choir by Nicki Greenberg
• Milly the Meerkat by Oakley Graham
• Legs: The Tale of a Meerkat Lost and Found by Sarah Dodds
• That Naughty Meerkat! by Ian Whybrow & Garry Parsons
• My Meerkat Mum by Ruth Paul
and a few short chapter books
• Meerkat Madness four titles in series by Ian Whybrow
• The Mystery of Meerkat Hill one of the titles in the series by Alexander McCall Smith about the eight year old Precious Ramotswe.
• Ninja Meerkats ten book series by Gareth P. Jones.
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