Meerkat Moving Day
Posted at 9:10 am April 24, 2009 by Laura Weiner
Our meerkat group on Elephant Mesa at the San Diego Zoo has seen a lot over its three years. It has grown to 16 members, with many births and non-stop digging. Last week was one of the biggest days of all: moving day. I knew it was coming for months and had been thinking about it constantly. How do I move 16 meerkats in crates to another exhibit without them hurting each other or themselves?
If you have read any of my blogs, you know that meerkats are quite aggressive with each other and there is almost always one with an injury (read Laura’s previous blog, Meerkats: A Hospital Trip). I wanted to move them quickly enough so they wouldn’t forget their mob mates. They seem to have a very short memory!
The move morning arrived and it was raining. Not usually a good sign. Meerkats mostly stay underground when it rains, so I wasn’t expecting much success. All of them are trained to come into the back area for meatballs, so I figured I should just give it a try. Amazingly, 14 came in! I did not want to move less than 16 that day, so I was determined to get the last 2. They were outside and it started pouring, which actually helped because they ran inside!
Now the process of nabbing each one and deciding who their travel partners would be. All three babies went together, Ngami and Ghanzi, Seronga had her own crate, Marula and Damara in another. In the end I had 12 crates ready for the short drive to their new, much larger exhibit next to the Zoo’s Kopje habitat. The meerkats that were living there had been moved to the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park.
We decided to release them all at the same time so no one would have any advantage or try to defend their new territory. Immediately all of them raced out of their crates and ran around the exhibit like mad. They were sniffing, scent marking, digging, and exploring every last inch. This exhibit is at least three times the size of their old one and smelled like another mob of meerkats. They had a lot of work to do to make it their own. I thought they would run out of scent marking smells before the day was done.
Then they noticed two meerkats in the small exhibit next door. Kasane, their former mob mate, and Leo. They spent a large portion of the day and night trying to get to Kasane and Leo. And it was not to give a friendly hello, either. Thankfully, Kasane and Leo were transferred to their new home at Elephant Mesa the next day.
Both groups ended the week with a much larger exhibit and plenty of digging to do. I was so happy that everyone not only survived but actually acclimated wonderfully. I will miss caring for this group and all of their tales!
Laura Weiner is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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April 24th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Laura, are you now caring for Kasane and Leo and their eventual group? Too bad Seronga couldn’t be part of that group, or maybe you have plans for her to have a place of her own some day???
Thanks for the update. Hopefully with the larger space Ngami will leave Seronga more in peace, especially if/when Seronga has little ones.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I’m glad to hear that the move went well and they have acclimated to their new home well. I remember this exhibit from my previous visits to the zoo and they should love all the room they now have to romp, play, dig and forage. I’m sorry to read that you won’t be caring for this big mob, you have done such a fine job with these meerkats that have provided me so much enjoyment and photo ops over the years.
Laurie
April 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Thanks Laura for another hilarious meerkat tale. I’m trying to imagine what it must have looked like with all those meerkats rushing round their new exhibit at the same time. Total chaos!!
Have I missed something somewhere, because you say you won’t be caring for this group any more? I shall miss your wonderful funny stories of these gorgeous animals which you magically bring to life in your blogs. Next time you’re passing their exhibit, say ‘Hi’ from me – that’ll confuse them for sure!!
April 24th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Laura, you and the other SDZ keepers do such a great job of planning, coordinating, and executing any challenge that you come up against in moving animals, training animals, etc. It’s always fun, exciting, and interesting to read the blog posts. You’re great writers, too, as I often find myself almost holding my breath, reading eagerly to find out the outcome and wondering if you’ll pull off the task. The sprinklings of humor here and there are enjoyable, as well.
Thanks for sharing meerkat moving day with us.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:04 am
LOL “short memory” I thought this is a funny blog..it made my day…thanks for the story..as always I love your blogs.
May 20th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Hi! Looks like the SDZ Meerkat Manor has a new home to continue their crazy lives and antics. I’m glad that the move went well and the meerkats are settling in well. It sounds like Kasane and Leo will probably form their own meerkat group now that they have their own space to call their own. Hope Seronga will do well, too! Hopefully Ngami will just leave her alone and let her live her life in peace! To be continued at the SDZ Meerkat Manor………….!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
June 14th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Laura: I didn’t know you were losing the Meerkats! I always enjoy seeing them when I come out to visit you. Are you getting anything in their place?
Dad
June 15th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Hi Dad!
Well I actually still have three meerkats in the exhibit. Kasane and Leo and then this week we introduced Seronga to the twosome and it is going well. I am thrilled! Both of the girls are very relaxed and not fighting like they used to. It is great to see. Thanks for reading my blog!
November 13th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I love Meerkats!! Thank you for sharing this story with us, I always love hearing new stories about the animals at San Diego Zoo expecially my Favorite the Meerkats [so cute :]] I will be looking forward to seeing their new Exhibit on my next visit.