MIAMI – Zoo Miami is mourning the death of Diego, one of the zoo’s beloved meerkats.
Meerkats, which belong to the mongoose family, live in groups known as mobs that can range from 3 to 50 individuals. These mobs have a clear hierarchy led by a dominant male and female, according to Zoo Miami Communications Director Ron Magill.
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Magill said within these groups, establishing and maintaining this hierarchy can involve aggression, from simple displays to physical confrontations, which can sometimes lead to severe injury or death.
“Sadly, an extreme example of this behavior led to the death of Diego as a result of aggression from the dominant male, Yuca,” Magill confirmed in a press release Wednesday.
On July 24, the meerkats underwent routine health exams as part of Zoo Miami’s comprehensive care program.
The exams, which required anesthesia, were planned with the meerkats’ complex social structure in mind. Both the dominant and submissive males were “immobilized at the same time to facilitate their reintroduction,” the zoo stated.
While the initial reintroduction went smoothly, Zoo Miami staff members said they noticed escalating aggression between Yuca and Diego later in the day.
Despite Diego’s injuries being initially deemed minor, the decision was made to separate the mob overnight and resume introductions the following day with staff supervision.
“Tragically, the second reintroduction led to a more severe confrontation, resulting in significant injuries to Diego,” according to Zoo Miami.
Despite the efforts of the animal care and health teams to treat him, Diego succumbed to his injuries on July 26, Magill said.
“This loss is deeply felt by everyone at Zoo Miami, especially those who cared for the meerkats daily. The remaining members of the mob have been successfully reintroduced and are being closely monitored,” Magill said.
Visitors can view them either in person or through Zoo Miami’s “Meerkat Cam” at www.zoomiami.org.