Meerkats have strict immigration laws. They take it to an entirely new level. Their small mobs not only expel, but also hunt, fight and kill intruders. No mercy. It is simply the pure survival instincts at work. America’s system is quite laid back compared to that.
The Mobs Rule
Meerkats are social animals and live in small groups, called mobs or gangs. A mob has an alpha female, her mate and a number of subordinates. Everyone has a job: there are babysitters, hunters and sentinels. There’s no stepping out of line. No second chances. No mercy.
Borders Are No Joke
Meerkats are tiny, animals that patrol their land like tiny furry border guards. They take turns standing guard, searching the horizon for enemies. Meerkat mobs do not tolerate other mobs coming too close; if they do, it’s war. And war isn’t just barking and growling. It’s clawing, biting, and sometimes killing.
No Room for Freeloaders
In the desert, resources are low, and meerkats can’t afford to share their food and water with strangers. So, they don’t. Humans sit and argue about immigration policies. But meerkats don’t negotiate. They are either asked to leave or face harsh consequences.
Even Family Gets Kicked Out Nepotism?
If a subordinate female is pregnant, the alpha female considers her as a rival. So she is unfairly exiled. The pregnant female meerkat is made to wander alone, prey for any predator.
Survival Over Sympathy
We wonder why meerkats are so harsh. But it could be explained by the tough environment of the desert. If they allow too many strangers in, then they will run out of resources. If they didn’t have strict rules there would be chaos. Their strict immigration policy ensures that only the strong survive. It seems cold, but it’s organised.
Disease Free
Unknown diseases come in with strangers. Meerkats have no tolerance for strangers because of this risk. There are no quarantine centers or medical checks. So immigrants cannot pass. It’s a drastic measure, but it helps to preserve the health and number of meerkat mobs.
Meerkats Act Fast
America has a long procedure for for immigration. Meerkats don’t. If they sense a threat, they attack immediately. No paperwork, no waiting for approval. Just instant action to protect themselves.
The Negative Aspects of the Zero Tolerance Policy
But all this toughness comes at a cost. Excluding subordinates and strangers, means decreasing genetic diversity. Too little genetic variety and inbreeding can lead to health issues for meerkats.
Never-Ending Wars
Without a plan of peaceful integration, meerkats are caught in a cycle of turf wars. It takes energy to fight, it causes injuries, and it can sometimes end in death. A little diplomacy could come in handy, but they are too busy brawling.
Humans vs Meerkats
People are able to make compromises, have empathy, and reason, unlike meerkats. However, there are times that we are more like meerkats than we wish to be: we are protective of our territory, suspicious of strangers, and resist change.
Lessons From the Desert
Meerkats are strict but their system is far from perfect. American immigration policies may be disordered, but at least there’s space for dialogue. What can we learn from meerkat policies? And how can we do better?
Your Call
It’s up to you to decide what’s better: a very strict but quite effective system or one that aims to find a balance between security and compassion? Meerkats have no conscience. Humans do. At least, we should have one.
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