Behavioural shifts reveal stress within cooperative meerkat clans.

Meerkats have long been celebrated for their remarkable social organisation, from coordinated vigilance to cooperative pup care. Their strength lies in collective behaviour, yet new research indicates that several populations are showing subtle declines in group cohesion. These changes matter because social integrity is at the core of meerkat survival. When interactions weaken, the consequences ripple through predator avoidance, learning patterns and reproductive success. Scientists tracking behavioural trends have begun identifying early indicators of social strain. What follows is a closer look at eight signs that meerkats may be becoming less social and why these shifts carry far reaching implications for their future.



