Amadi (c.2012-2025) and Hardy (c.2013-2025)
Obituary
Amadi and Hardy, two Meerkats, were euthanized following health issues at the Virginia Zoo in March 2025.
Amadi and Hardy, two slender-tailed meerkats, died at the Virginia Zoo in March 2025. Amadi and Hardi, 13 and 12 years old, respectively, were euthanized due to age-related health issues. The zoo euthanized them at the same time because they were deeply bonded and did not believe they could cope living alone.
Meerkats are members of the mongoose family and live across southern Africa, including the Kalahari Desert. They are known for standing on their rear legs and observing. They are well-suited to their desert habitats. For example, dark rings under their eyes help reduce the sun’s glare.
Meerkats are very social and live in “gangs” or “mobs” that can include up to 40 individuals. Mobs are comprised of several families. They play together, groom one another, hunt, and guard young meerkats. Meerkats are matriarchal; one top female produces most of the babies, but the mob cares for them collectively. The top female is larger and usually more aggressive than the other group members.
Meerkats are not endangered or under pressure in the wild. But they’re common at zoos because they drive ticket sales as “cute” animals. Zoos cannot approximate a meerkat’s home in the wild. A meerkat’s range extends several kilometers in Africa. An enclosure is a fraction of their desert homes. World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves meerkats to avoid zoos and enjoy them in the wild or at sanctuaries.
