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Published online 8 August 2006 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news060807-4
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Cute meerkats actually vicious baby killers
Cooperative society gets stressed out when babies are involved.
Are meerkats friendly altruistic animals who look after each other's young, or a back-stabbing selfish bunch?
Research shows that although meerkat societies are generally cooperative, when it comes to pregnant females all bets are off. If a meerkat gets pregnant, she will actively try to kill the pups of other females.
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