A meerkat tried to get me involved in the smuggling business once. At the zoo, their enclosure looked similar to the one pictured; big round area with waist high walls. When I walked over, most of the meerkats ran underground, except for one, who ran to the side of the enclosure, stuck his little arms up, and started jumping. When I walked around the wall, he followed. When I leaned over, he jumped higher. Thinking "gee, it looks like the little guy wants me to pick him up" I lowered my arms in and he jumped right in them and promptly flipped himself over indicating belly rubs were in order. I obliged, but out of the corner of my eye I saw that his buddies had witnessed the "abduction" and were quickly filing out of the hole to mount a rescue mission. I had to face the adorable anger of about 15 or so meerkats standing on their hind legs chittering wildly at me. I figured this looked like the start to a Hitchcock sequel so I returned the meerkat to the pen and the mob quieted. I still wonder if the little ham ever convinced someone to get him outta there.