Meerkats or suricates are mammals in the mongoose family.
Meerkats (Suricata suricatta), Szeged Zoo.
These suricates were outside in spite of the September weather and seemed to have been enjoying themselves.
Meerkats are gregarious creatures that live in large groups and form a somewhat complex social structure. Humans like to judge other animals by their cuteness — especially by their cuteness on superficial observation — thus meerkets are high on the likable scale even though they do not socialize well with humans.
There are even reality show style TV programs depicting the politics of meerkat families which is a bit bizarre.
Meerkats in the Toronto Zoo.
Even though meerkats look cute and cuddly they are vicious little critters and don’t make very good house pets.