“Sociability is especially important as species develop socio-cognitive skills. Past interaction really matters to humans and is probably the prime factor affecting many other social interactions. Primates such as hamadryad baboons know how receptive their sexual partners are likely to be by calling and grunting with very special sounds, also affected by experience. Constant monitoring of a whole “mob” of meerkats would be ideal and with this unique species, the 3 researchers here hoped to get a result. Up to 50 individuals occur in these groups, dominated by a pair who monopolise breeding in the same way as in a wolfpack.”