This is the story about a group of meerkats who were released into an area for research, and how four became many. Safira, Harafesina, Sefo, and Peratra are all one year old and were originally privately owned by a person who could no longer care for them properly. The four kats were donated to the research group and were released into the wild where they will be tracked and studied via the radio collar around Safira's and Peratra's necks. Due to the success rate of other former captive meerkats, everyone in the project has faith that these four will have what it takes to survive.
Huddle in the scant shade of a tree, the four meerkats eye the humans warily before gradually shifting their attention to their surroundings. Nobody moves, but then Sefo spots a gecko darting by and immediately darts out to snatch it up. She rejoins the others with no intention of sharing her prey.
They may not get to eat, but it seems like Sefo's successful hunt is enough to stir the other meerkats into action...somewhat. Peratra seems to have decided that it is safe enough for him to lay down for a nap. Harafesina, however, is clearly unsettled and is staying alert, though his definition of a threat is clearly lacking.
That leaves Safira who is looking around with keen interest. Instinct tells her that it is not safe for her to venture out into the open on her own. so she calls for her companions to join her. Harafesina seems reluctant to move, while Peratra is clearly miffed at being forced to move from his cozy spot. Sefo looks like she wants to ignore the summons, but then comes running. The four meerkats are out in the open and on the move, exploring the area that will be their home from now on. Instinct tells them to be alert, but their noses also reveal the tasty treasures hidden beneath the dirt and sand. Safira learns how to not only catch a millipede but also how to properly prepare it for eating. Peratra goes paw to claw with a scorpion, and even timid Harafesina is rewarded with a juicy beetle grub.
Around midday, the group finds a place to rest and relax. Their bellies are full and they take some time to groom before settling down for a nap. When the sun moves position and things cool down to a more bearable temperature, the meerkats are up and on the move again. They are looking for more food and scanning the area for suitable shelters for the night and when a danger alarm goes off. Meerkats are small, which makes them fairly easy targets for predators. This is why having a sentry system is important and bolt holes are a matter of life and death.
Safira finds the first likely spot, which is an old rabbit hole. It is deep enough to shelter four meerkats in an emergency but much too cramped to be used for sleeping. This will be their first bolt hole and the males quickly lay down scent markers.
Later on, it is Sefo who makes the lucky strike. An abandoned burrow that will definitely be large enough to make a cozy home for a group of four or more meerkats. The only slight problem is that this spot clearly used to be home to a family of jackals, but it appears that they have long since moved on. Surprisingly enough, Harafesina seems at ease with the faint trace of jackal and scent-marking the surrounding bush. It takes only a little bit of work to make the burrow suitable enough to please everyone's standards, but when done the meerkats sit down to watch the sunset.
When they retire below ground, it is proof that another day is done and that tomorrow will be the start of yet another series of adventures.
