Diego, the popular suricate from the Miami zoo, dies.

Zoo Miami is in mourning for the death of Diego, one of the most beloved and popular meerkats in the park.

The Communications Director of the zoo, Ron Magill, reported that Diego died after being attacked by a dominant male of the pack named Yuca, according to an official post on Facebook.

He explained that meerkats, from the mongoose family, live in groups that can vary from three to 50 individuals, and where there is a clear hierarchy led by a dominant male and female.

Within these groups, establishing and maintaining this hierarchy can involve aggression, ranging from simple demonstrations to physical confrontations, which can sometimes lead to serious injuries or death, Magill noted.

"Unfortunately, an extreme example of this behavior led to Diego's death as a result of the aggression from the dominant male, Yuca," he emphasized.

It details that on July 24, the meerkats underwent routine health exams that required anesthesia as part of Zoo Miami's comprehensive care program.

Both the dominant males and the submissive ones were "immobilized at the same time to facilitate their reintroduction," which initially went smoothly, he emphasized.

However, the staff members at Zoo Miami noticed an escalation of aggression between Yuca and Diego later that same day.

Diego's injuries were initially considered minor, so the decision was made to separate the herd overnight and resume the presentations the following day under the supervision of the staff.

"Tragically, the second reintroduction led to a more severe confrontation, resulting in significant injuries for Diego," Magill stated.

Despite the efforts of the animal care and health teams to treat him, Diego succumbed to his injuries on July 26, the post details.

"This loss is deeply felt by everyone at Zoo Miami, especially by those who cared for the meerkats daily. The remaining members of the pack have been successfully reintroduced and are being closely monitored," noted the expert.