Whiskers November 2025 pups
Photo by Matt Shard
Meerkat breeding season in the Kalahari continued throughout November. Whiskers dominant female Sheila (VWF267) and her littermate sisters Kylie (VWF265) and Bruce (VWF266) all gave birth within two weeks of one another. Twelve pups emerged in November, bringing the Whiskers group to a total of 21 individuals.
Other females that gave birth in November were Dik-Diks dominant female Juliet (VDDF009), Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160), Side Quest dominant female Pumba (VZUF048), Ubuntu dominant female Agazoth (VUBF039), Vetkoeks dominant female Mooncake (VHMF083) and Zulus dominant female Leona (VZUF070). Dominant females at Alba, Brussels Sprouts, Gold Diggers, and Trackie-Daks are pregnant.
Zulus Rainbow (VZUM078) with VZU2503 litter pups
Photo by Sean Nelson
Zulus Sweep (VZUM072)
Rovers were doing their thing in November: Gold Diggers were visited by rovers from Lazuli and Brussels Sprouts. There were seven observed encounters by Lazuli Tinashe (VLM310) and Pot Belly (VLM317) and by Brussels Sprouts subordinate adult male Gurke (VHMM036); 11 observed encounters at Alba by unknown males and by Zulus subordinate adult male Sweep (VZUM072); 7 encounters seen at Whiskers by unidentified adults; 2 encounters observed at Side Quest and Trackie-Daks by unknown individuals; and 1 encounter seen at Dik-Diks, Ubuntu and Vetkoeks by unidentified individuals. Brussels Sprouts has 5 observed encounters – one with Hogwarts subordinate yearling male Buckbeak (VHWM002) and Zulus subordinate yearling male Rainbow (VZUM078), Gold Diggers subordinate male Captain Patel (VGDM048) and subordinate yearling Snackajack (VGDM063), Lazuli subordinate male Tinashe (VGDM310) and one unknown individual. Eleven encounters were observed at Zulus by Hogwarts Buckbeak, Alba subordinate male Bibu (VALM014), Brussels Sprouts subordinate adult male Gurke (VHMM036) and one unknown individual.
Trackie-Daks Hope (VTDF045)
Trackie-Daks Fishstick VTDF044 and pup Sip VTDF050
In light of Trackie-Daks dominant female Refilwe’s (VTDF041) pregnancy, all of the group’s subordinate females (sub-adult and older): Fishstick (VTDF044), Hope (VTDF045), Kibo (VTDF049), Sip (VTDF050), Timone (VTDF051) and Meeko (VTDF052) were evicted and all are absent at the end of the month. Dik-Diks pregnant eldest subordinate female Shelby (VGDF022) was also evicted and absent at the end of the month. Ubuntu subordinate sub-adult female Hotfoot (VUBF039) has been gone long enough from her natal group to be considered emigrated out. Hotfoot had been evicted but is still seen near the group.
Lazuli Scrumpy (VLM323)
Photo by Sean Nelson
Lazuli’s subordinate sub-adult male Scrumpy’s (VLM323) health continued to decline, and he did not leave the burrow on November 1st. He is presumed dead. Scrumpy exhibited severe weight-loss, fatigue and breathing difficulties.
Female dominance is still unconfirmed at Elrond’s Council. Male dominance is still unconfirmed at Vetkoeks.
Click here for the November 2025 Meerkatter.
The November 2025 Life History Chart can be found here.
Find the latest Group Territory Map here.
