ZooNooz Article - SEPTEMBER 2008

Marking meerkats

How do you tell the members of a huddle of nine little Meerkats apart? And just which one is standing tall upon that rock guarding the family? BOBBY-JO VIAL, carnivore keeper, reports on a novel way of identifying members of Taronga's Meerkat group.

Photograph Nick Hanlon

It can be difficult to identify individual Meerkats as they are all similar in size and share similar features. But keepers need to know which one is the dominant female and which is causing trouble.

Identification can be achieved by continual observation and dedicated Meerkat watchers can identify each individual by looking at features such as scars, coat colour, ear shape and, of course, personality.

Taronga's newly introduced group of Meerkats is fast approaching the breeding season and there will be an array of behaviours to observe, particularly those denoting the hierarchy of the group. Keepers need to monitor levels of aggression between dominant and lower-ranking animals as dominant female Meerkats can become extremely aggressive when pregnant and can even expel individuals from the group.

The carnivore keepers liaised with Timothy Clutton- Brock, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cambridge University and also founder of the Kalahari Meerkat Project, well-known from TV's Meerkat Manor, on an achievable method of identification for the zoo's nine Meerkats. Dr Clutton-Brock recommended the use of Clairol Nice 'n Easy black hair dye.

Researchers in the Kalahari apply this hair dye on certain parts of the Meerkat's body for identification. The hair dye is re-applied every six weeks (just like with humans).

Using this information, keepers designed an identification chart for Taronga's Meerkats which included a photograph of each animal and the position of its dye mark. The chart also included a physical description and brief behavioural history of each individual.

The next step was to start de-sensitising the meerkats to the touch of a small paintbrush to specific parts of the body. This was best done whilst the group was focused on their morning fruit feed. After one week of successful de-sensitisation, the hair dye was applied.

Marking the Meerkats has been an invaluable part of management and husbandry for this species.

Now with just a quick glance, keepers can identify each animal by its unique dye mark. This correct identification has improved recordkeeping and, most importantly, enabled more accurate behavioural observations.

It has been quite a sight for visitors to see keeper Bobby-Jo Vial, armed with a small paintbrush, hair dye, plastic gloves and some local zoo gossip, treating the meerkats to a nice salon colour.

Unfortunately she could not convince them to have a conditioning treatment or a pedicure.

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