Zoo Miami is mourning the death of Diego, one of the park’s most beloved and popular meerkats.
The zoo’s communications director, Ron Magill, reported that Diego died after being attacked by a dominant male in the herd named Yuca, according to an official publication in Facebook.
He explained that meerkats, from the mongoose family, live in packs that can range from three to 50 individuals, and where there is a clear hierarchy led by a dominant male and female.
Within these groups, establishing and maintaining this hierarchy can involve aggression, from simple demonstrations to physical confrontations, which can sometimes result in serious injury or death, Magill said.
“Unfortunately, an extreme example of this behaviour led to Diego’s death as a result of aggression from the dominant male, Yuca,” he said.
He details that on July 24, the meerkats underwent routine health examinations that required anesthesia as part of the comprehensive care program from Zoo Miami.
Both dominant and submissive males were “immobilized at the same time to facilitate their reintroduction,” which initially went smoothly, he said.
However, Zoo Miami staff members noticed a escalation of aggression between Yuca and Diego later that same day.
Diego’s injuries were initially considered minor, so the decision was made to separate the herd overnight and resume performances the following day with staff supervision.
“Tragically, the second reintroduction led to a more severe confrontation, resulting in significant injuries to Diego,” Magill said.
Despite the efforts of animal care and health teams to treat him, Diego succumbed to his injuries on July 26, the publication details.
“This loss is deeply felt by everyone at Zoo Miami, especially those who cared for the meerkats on a daily basis. The remaining members of the pack have been successfully reintroduced and are being closely monitored,” the expert said.
