By Bethany Overland

Mealworms and watermelon rinds may not come to mind as preferred Fourth of July picnic fare. But they’re a feast for the Woodland Park Zoo’s newest African dignitaries, a meerkat family of eight.

Hundreds gathered to watch the meerkats gorge themselves July 1 as the zoo kicked off its two-day Red, White and Zoo celebration. The meerkat mob showed off its new digs, and the zoo revealed the critters' brand-new names.

In a community vote sponsored by U.S. Bank and the Seattle Times, more than 2,600 voters decided on the final eight names: Zimba, Nata, Molopo, Kiwano, Kalahari, Dinawa, Acacia and Ngami.

The names remain to be assigned to each meerkat. Anne Nichols, lead keeper for the creatures, said she plans to let the naming process come naturally.

“We’re starting to figure out which names go with each of their individual personalities,” said Nichols. “They really do have personalities—like the alpha female, she’s very assertive. And, there’s another male who is incredibly exploratory. He’s our sentry, the lookout.”

Meerkats are known for their ability to live and work in groups of up to 30 individuals. Each has a specific job, whether it be standing guard or babysitting the young.

Meerkats are the most social of the mongoose family, which was evident July 1 as they played and tumbled about their living quarters, stopping only to check for new faces on the other side of the glass.

“They like to watch the raptor show,” Nichols said, gesturing toward the bird exhibit across from the meerkats. “They’re just so curious. They love to line up at the glass and watch, and they’ll chirp to each other about it.”

The meerkat mob, four pups each from two different families, came from Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo in April. The Woodland Park Zoo exhibit opened May 1 and has become a major attraction for visitors.

“We’re here about once a week,” said Mark Stone, annual zoo member and Green Lake resident. “It’s funny to watch the meerkats’ human-like characteristics. I watch my son play, and it just shows how similar we really are.”

Stone’s son, 4-year-old Mason, who normally comes to see the jaguars, gave the meerkats two thumbs up.

Red, White and Zoo continued July 2, featuring other beasts of the animal kingdom, such as grizzly bears, snow leopards and orangutans. Each enjoyed its own Fourth of July-themed snacks.

Bethany Overland is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory. Video courtesy of Woodland Park Zoo.