The Sierran meerkat (Suricata suricatta serra) is a meerkat subspecies found in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts of Sierra. It is one of the four confirmed subspecies of meerkat, and the only meerkat located outside the southern region of Africa. The Sierran meerkat is not native to Sierra but its ancestors were Suricata suricatta siricata meerkats who were introduced by South African prospectors during the Gold Rush. It was believed a population of 50 meerkats were released intentionally in the Mojave which from there, has led to its current population estimates of 20,000. Today, the meerkat is a protected species in Sierra and has often been used to symbolically represent the Kingdom.