Ann & Steve Toon / Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) on the move, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa.. Second place in the Mammals Category of the GDT European Nature Photographer of the Year Competi...

Klein & Hubert / Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) standing on the burrow, warming up while facing the sun, Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) three one-month old pups playing on the burrow under a watchful adult 'babysitter', Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) baby, age one month, looking up to 'babysitting' adult, Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) 'babysitter' with three pups about one month old on the burrow, Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) two 'babysitters' with three pups, age one month, playing on burrow, Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) two pups, age one month, playing on burrow, Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) alpha female nursing her one month old pups on the den, Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) baby, age one month, on den with adult 'babysitter', Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) three pups, age one month, on den with adult 'babysitter', Kalahari Desert, Botswana.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) alarmed group standing on hind legs watching jackal pass by, Kalahari, Botswana

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on burrow at sunset, Kalahari, Botswana

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) baby, age one month, sitting on burrow, Kalahari, Botswana.

Ann & Steve Toon / Meerkats (Suricata suricatta), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa, January.

Ann & Steve Toon / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) running, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa, January.

Ann & Steve Toon / Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) with young, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa, January.

Jen Guyton / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) barely alive, with Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) quills through his abdomen. Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing alert, Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) on den, warming up before starting to forage, Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) juveniles playfighting in Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing sentry on a dead tree in Kalahari Desert, South Africa

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing sentry on a dead tree, Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Three Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) on a dead tree in Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Three adult Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) rear view standing and looking in same direction, and a juvenile, Kalahari Desert, South Africa

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata surricatta) adult grooming juvenile, Kalahari desert, South Africa.

Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata surricatta) group of five warming up in the sunshine, Kalahari desert, South Africa.

Will Burrard-Lucas / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) portrait, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

Will Burrard-Lucas / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) male standing alert on hind legs, with babies around feet, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

Will Burrard-Lucas / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing alert on hind legs at sunset, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

Will Burrard-Lucas / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) adult with babies, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

Neil Aldridge / Young Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on its hind legs near the edge of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana, April.

Neil Aldridge / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing and keeping watch while another excavates a burrow in soft sand before disappearing underground for the night. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana, April.

Kristel Richard / Wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) habituated to humans standing alert on local guide, Makgadikgadi Pans, Kalahari desert, Botswana.

Kristel Richard / Wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) habituated to humans acting as sentry and standing alert on local guide's head for height, Makgadikgadi Pans, Kalahari desert, Botswana. No release available.

Ann & Steve Toon / Meerkat / Suricate (Suricata suricatta) pregnant female standing on hind legs, with swollen abdomen exposed, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Ann & Steve Toon / Meerkat / Suricate family group (Suricatta suricata) standing alert together, Kalahari Meerkat Project, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) juvenile peering out from under resting group of adults, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) rear view of group standing on guard, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on guard, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on guard, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on guard on rock, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) juvenile watching adult catch a scorpion, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on guard, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on guard, back to back, South Africa

Solvin Zankl / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) adult male and juvenile standing on guard, South Africa

SIMON KING / Young Meerkats huddling together {Suricata suricatta} Tswalu Kalahari Reserve S Africa

Marguerite Smits Van Oyen / Two Meerkats standing on guard {Suricata suricatta} Tswalu Kalahari R, South Africa - suricates

Marguerite Smits Van Oyen / Film-maker Simon King with family of Meerkats {Suricata suricatta} Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa. 2002. aka Suricate