These amusing creatures share traits of monkeys, raccoons, and rodents. They are best observed on clear, warm days when the family is sunbathing in the outdoor enclosure, digging burrows, and engaging in energetic chatter. During the cold season, the meerkats reside in a heated pavilion. It’s worth noting that the dominant role in the family is held by the female, and one of the group’s most important tasks is defending their territory.

When best to watch them: during daytime, on sunny days. The meerkats are especially active at feeding time—in the mornings and early evenings.

Watch the livestream at onlinezoo.moscow every day from 07:30 to 21:00 (MSK, Moscow Standard Time). Or come to the zoo to see them in person!

Meerkats have been living at the capital’s zoo since 2009. During the first few months after their arrival, they were very active in establishing relationships, defining territorial boundaries, and forming family bonds. Now, zoo visitors and online viewers can watch the families play, eat, groom each other, and communicate.

New Grounds, "Animals of Africa" exhibit

Meerkats are small members of the mongoose family native to the desert regions of southern Africa. They are active during the daytime: they enjoy basking in the sun, digging and maintaining intricate burrow systems, vigilantly defending their territory from intruders, and engaging in highly social interactions. At night, they sleep in their burrows, huddling together for warmth.

Meerkat societies are matriarchal. They live and forage as a group, and in the wild, while the others feed, a sentinel always stands guard. Meerkats have remarkable digestive systems—they can consume even poisonous prey. At the Moscow Zoo, they are fed cottage cheese, quail eggs, poultry meat, insect larvae, and bananas, which they devour at lightning speed.