What it all amounts to, says Andrew Young University of Cambridge, is an interesting clash between selfishness and cooperation. There is a vicious power struggle between dominants and subordinates to see who manages to breed — which the dominant female usually wins. But after that, the cooperative behaviour kicks in and everyone helps to rear the young.

"In the long run, it's all genetically selfish," Young comments. "The subordinates attempt to reproduce; if they can't, they try to ensure the survival of the group — on which their own survival depends — and rear their close relatives, who share their genes."

So, like politicians, meerkats work for the good of the party, but are vicious back-stabbers when they get the chance.