A heavily social animal, the meerkat lives in matriarchal family units ranging between 3-50 residents. When the day hits and it’s time to find food, meerkats emerge from their underground ...

Female meerkat with pups 3. The subordinate meerkats stay because it’s their best chance of survival – and of being promoted The helpers or “subordinates” will stay in the group because ...

That’s essentially the cooperative breeding system of meerkat groups, in which one dominant male and female monopolize the mating and pup-bearing. What helps that female keep her coveted position?