Author: Laura

Brussels Sprouts Gurke VHMM036  Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Side Quest Legolas VECM009
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

KMP meerkat losses from tuberculosis (TB) continued into August. Two much-loved males – Brussels Sprouts subordinate adult Gurke (VHMM036) and Side Quest dominant male Legolas (VECM009) – were given their LAST SEEN. Both of these iconic males are highlighted in the August Meerkatter.

The newly formed Khoisan (KH) group is no longer being followed due to the loss of the group’s collared individual, Princess Carolyn (VTDM013), and all remaining seven individuals infected with TB.

Alba is also suffering badly from TB. Nineteen out of the 25 members are showing signs of declining health including dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008) and dominant male Pucky (VECM023). The group experienced numerous group splits in August and a new sub-group was established as a result of one of the splits. A wild male is acting as part of Alba and is displaying dominance behavior. Subordinate adult male Disco (VALM029) is now wearing the group’s collar due to Cleopatra’s poor health.

Alba Disco VALM029
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Brussels Sprouts subordinate males Porcini (VBSM012), Gizmo (VBSM018), and Shiitake (VBSM014) are all showing signs of TB.

No other individuals at Side Quest besides dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) and adult subordinate male Tex (VSIM035) are showing signs of TB. Tex has been missing from the group since August 17th.

Elrond’s Council sub-adult Scholesy (VECM078) was given his LAST SEEN. The overall health of the group has declined severely. No-Teeth-Keith (VECM074) is the only member without signs of TB. Eldest subordinate female Cadenza’s (VECF059) inguinal lump burst and she has lost significant weight.

Eldest subordinate male Zuma (VZUM059) has been confirmed as the dominant male at Vetkoeks after receiving the required number of submissions from the mature males in the group. Yearling female Thotho (VVKF027) was given her LAST SEEN.

Elrond’s Council No-Teeth-Keith-VECM074
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Vetkoeks Thotho VVKF027
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Whiskers adult subordinate male Agent K (VWM276) spent most of August absent from the group. He left on the 20th and had not returned by the end of the month. Whiskers is now classified a full data collection group.

Zulus dominant female Leona (VZUF070) aborted her litter. Sub-adult male Mandu (VZUM086) and sub-adult female Dee (VZUF095) were given their LAST SEEN.

Enough habituation progress has been made with Dik-Diks dominant female Juliet (VGDF009) and eldest adult female Shelby (VGDF022) to make Dik-Diks a full data collection group.

Ubuntu dominant female Agazoth (VUBF039) gave birth. Ubuntu yearling subordinate females Moppie (VUBF081) and Stella (VUBF083) were given their LAST SEEN.

Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160), Hogwarts dominant female Salazar (VZUF051) and Trackie-Daks dominant female Agazoth (VTDF041) all gave birth in                                                                  August. Trackie-Daks sub-adult female Unathi (VTDF063) was given her LAST SEEN.

Zulus Mandu VZUM086
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Zulus Dee VZUF095
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

A new group of approximately 8 individuals was discovered following an intergroup interaction with the Lazuli at a sleeping burrow. Two of the group’s individuals were natal Lazuli females that had been given their LAST SEEN in January 2024 – Chicken (VLF289) and Audumbla (VLF296). The new group is named Nova (NA).

Click here for the August 2026 Meerkatter.

The August 2026 Life History Chart is found here.

Find the latest Group Territory Map here.

Trackie-Daks Unathi VTDF063 front left, Guido VWM275 in back and Kamva VTDF064      Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Gold Diggers Goldeneye (VGDF007) and Shrew (VUBM018)

Lazuli Pot Belly VLM317

This month, an increase in roving males and heavily pregnant females within the KMP meerkat population suggests that breeding season is approaching. Rover drama with Lazuli, Gold Diggers, Ubuntu and Vetkoeks is featured in the July Meerkatter. Trackie-Daks dominant female Refilwe (VTDF041), Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160), Ubuntu dominant female Agazoth (VUBF039) and Hogwarts dominant female Salazar (VZUF051) are all confirmed pregnant. A chart in the July Meerkatter offers an insightful comparison of the number of pups born each month over the past six years.

Following an intergroup interaction (IGI) between Lazuli and Gold Diggers, Gold Diggers dominant female Goldeneye (VGDF007) was seen away from the group with Lazuli subordinate male Pot Belly (VLM317) mounting her. Gold Diggers dominant male Shrew (VUBM018) spent the rest of the morning field session mate guarding Goldeneye.

Jaxx Mikey (VJXF220 ) as a pup

Ubuntu Koka (VUBM085)

There were 9 group splits at Alba during July, however all 25 members were back together at the end of the month. The Alba members with tuberculosis (TB) symptoms mentioned last month have continued to decline with burst lumps and weight loss. There are also signs of TB showing in Florence (VALF031), Pembroke (VALM036), Juanita (VALF040), and Lil-Mookie (VALM048).

Brussels Sprouts subordinate male Gurke (VHMM036) was not present with the group at the end of the month.  Subordinate male Gizmo (VBSM018) is also showing signs of TB.

Jaxx juvenile female Mikey (VJXF220) was given her LAST SEEN.

Ubuntu Julieta (VUBF098) as a pup

Elrond’s Council Rza (VECM066) and Scholesy (VECM078) in front

There is an increase in dominance competitions between subordinate females at Side Quest as dominant female Pumba’s (VZUF048) health continues to decline from TB. Dominant male Legolas (VECM009) has not been seen since July 22nd.  He was just 578 grams prior to leaving the group.

On the 11th, Ubuntu subordinate male Koka was killed after being hit by a vehicle. Juvenile female Julieta (VUBF098) was given her LAST SEEN.

Elrond’s Council decreased by one individual. Subordinate male Scholesy (VECM078) has not been seen since July 7th.  Rza (VECM066), Iron Mike (VECM073) and Noah (VECM076) continue to worsen in condition and struggle to keep up with the group. Adult female Cadenza (VECF059) and subordinate female Amaya (VECF077), Gazza (VECM080) and Slabhead (VECM081) are now also showing signs of TB.

Princess Carolyn (VTDM013)

Only 9 individuals were seen at Khoisan this month (down from 14). Since July 6th, adult male Princess Carolyn’s (VTDM013) radio collar continued to beep from the same spot within the sleeping burrow.

Whiskers subordinate adult male Agent K (VWM276) and subordinate female Luna (VWF279) woke up with the group on July 2nd after being absent at the end of last month.

Click here for the July 2026 Meerkatter.

Find the July 2026 Life History Chart here.

For the July Group Territory Map, click here.

Lazuli Bumble (VLF320)

Lazuli Pataud (VLF319)
Photo by Emma De Klerk

For Lazuli, June began with just 11 members, no dominant female and only two females in the group. June’s Meerkatter features the story of these two sisters, Pataud (VLF319) and Bumble (VLF320) battling for dominance.

Alba experienced a decline in the health of many of its members this month. Signs of tuberculosis (TB) are seen in dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008), dominant male Pucky (VECM023), and in subordinates Tress (VALF020), Chia (VALF023), Xue (VALM024), Bachue (VALF025), Sunbeam (VALM028), Little-Creek (VALF033), Lorraine (VALF041) and Speedy Gonzales (VALM027). Samurai’s (VALM027) submandibular lump burst and he has lost considerable weight.

Zulus Rainbow (VZUM078) and pup
Photo by Sean Nelson

Brussels Sprouts had several encounters with Zulus males including Rainbow (VZUM078). Brussels Sprouts yearling male Porcini (VBSM012) has a submandibular lump.

Lazuli Finn (VLM317)

Lazuli juvenile male Finn (VLM328) was given his LAST SEEN.

Side Quest subordinate adult male Tex (VSIM035) is still showing signs of TB, but his health has remained stable. Dominant male Legolas (VECM009) and dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) are both in worsening condition. Yearling female Jungo (VSIF048) is now showing signs of TB as well.

Brussels Sprouts Porcini (VBSM012)
Photo by Sean Nelson

Whiskers Agent K (VWM276)
Photo by Matt Shard

Both male and female dominance remains unconfirmed at Elrond’s Council. The group consists of 9 individuals. Subordinate males Rza (VECM066), Iron Mike (VECM073) and Noah (VECM076) continue to show TB symptoms.

Female and male dominance is currently unknown at Khoisan.  The vast majority of its 14 members suffer from advanced TB.  Princess Carolyn (VTDM013) has a large submandibular lump.

Whiskers Agent K (VWM276) was absent from the group at the end of the month.  All Whiskers members appear to be in good health.

Find the June 2026 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the June 2026 Life History Chart.

For the June 2026 Group Territories Map, click here.

Alba

Side Quest Mrs. HS Balls (VSIF047)

The May Meerkatter features an article on meerkat strategies to maintain contact with one another during foraging sessions. Communication is key as individuals can spread out over a large expanse of ground and be out of sight from one another in the tall sour grass.  Group splits are also discussed, highlighting a recent event with the KMP’s second largest group, Alba (AL).  Other groups that split during May were Jaxx (JX) and Zulus (ZU).

Female dominance with Lazuli remains unconfirmed, however yearling females Pataud (VLF319) and Bumble (VLF320) have been displaying dominance behaviors. Lazuli juveniles Liv (VLF329) and Elmo (VLM331) were given their LAST SEEN.

Male dominance is still unconfirmed at Vetkoeks. Vetkoeks had two intergroup interactions (IGIs) in May – both with Whiskers, with no injuries on either side reported.

Lazuli Bumble (VLF320)

Lazuli Pataud (VLF319)

Side Quest dominant male Legloas (VECM009) and subordinate adult male Tex show large burst submandibular lumps and are beginning to lose weight. Dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) is in worsening condition with burst lumps on her legs. Her radio collar was removed and placed on yearling female Mrs. HS Balls (VSIF047).

Elrond’s Council Madarauchiha (VECM068) was given his LAST SEEN. He was last observed with severe TB symptoms. Subordinate male Noah (VECM076) has a small submandibular lump and open lumps on his legs. Both male and female dominance at Elrond’s Council remains unconfirmed. The group is currently comprised of nine individuals.

Alba Samurai (VALM027)

Alba yearling male Samurai (VALM027) continues to display a submandibular lump.

Ubuntu juvenile male Sam I Am (VUBM093) was given his LAST SEEN.

Khoisan (KS) appears to have decreased by two individuals and now stands at 15 members. The majority of the group members, including Princess Carolyn (VTDM013), show TB symptoms.

Find the May 2026 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the May 2026 Life History Chart.

The May 2026 Group Territory Map can be found here.