Author: Laura

Trackie-Daks Dominant Female Refilwe VTDF041

With October in the Kalahari, comes the meerkat breeding season – and with that comes rovers, mating, pregnancies, evictions, and pups. Alba dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008) gave birth to 5 pups, Brussels Sprouts dominant female Arabella (VMPF035) gave birth to 4 pups, Gold Diggers dominant female Goldeneye (VGDF007) gave birth to 5 pups, 3 pups of Lazuli dominant female Masiiwa  (VLF308) were seen, Trackie-Daks dominant female Refilwe (VTDF041) gave birth to 4 pups. Hogwarts dominant female Salazar (VZUF051) and Whiskers dominant female Sheila (VWF267) also gave birth and while the pups are yet to emerge, these litters are assumed to be alive. Vetkoeks dominant female Mooncake (VHMF053), Zulus dominant female Leona (VZUF070), Dik-Diks dominant female Juliet (VGDF009), Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160), Side Quest dominant female Pumba (VZUF048), Ubuntu dominant female Agazoth (VUBF039), are all officially pregnant.

Renegades Do Bronx VRGM003 far left  April 2025
Photo by Makgabo Mokale

Now for the rovers! Brussels Sprouts adult male Gurke (VHMM036) was seen at Alba and Gold Diggers; Renegades sub-adult male Do Bronx (VRGM003) was seen at Alba; Brussels Sprouts dominant male James (Sawyer) (VGDM011) and sub-adult male Bubek (VBSM019) left their group overnight, potentially roving; Gold Diggers yearling male Snackajack (VGDM063) was seen at Lazuli and Zulus, Gold Diggers adult male Tampin (VGDM055) was seen at Zulus; Gold Diggers adult male Captain Patel (VGDM048) encountered Lazuli, Gold Diggers sub-adult male Bokkie (VGDM067) was absent at the end of the month, potentially roving; Lazuli yearling Pot Belly (VLM317) roved at Gold Diggers and was seen mating with adult female Peanut (VGDF047); Zulus yearling male Catch-A-Mo (VZUM079) was seen at Gold Diggers; Lazuli adult male Tinashe (VLM310) was seen at Gold Diggers and Vetkoeks; Lazuli dominant male Rogelio de la Vega (VGDM015) encountered Dik-Diks; Lazuli yearling male Petit Bidon (VLM318) was seen at Dik-Diks and Vetkoeks; Whiskers adult male Agent K (VWM276) was seen at Trackie-Daks; and Hogwarts yearling male Buckbeak (VHWM002) was seen roving at Zulus.

Elrond’s Council Snoop Kat VECF039

Elrond’s Council Cadenza VECF059 (on top) and Rza VECM066

The featured article in the October Meerkatter highlights Elrond Council’s (former) dominant female Snoop Kat (VECF039). As mentioned last month, a chest injury was taking its toll on Snoop Kat’s health. She had difficulty keeping up foraging with the group and began losing significant weight. However, she was still able to assert her dominance, even with her daughter, eldest subordinate adult female Cadenza (VECF059), who began to challenge her. Upon her return from a weeklong absence from the group, Snoop Kat submitted to Cadenza’s challenges, effectively giving up her position as the group’s dominant female. Snoop Kat left Elrond’s Council the following day on the 18th of October and has not been seen since. Female dominance at Elrond’s Council is undetermined at the end of the month.

Alba Kronk VALM018
Photo by Sean Nelson

Trackie-Daks Chinchilla VTDF029

The following were given their LAST SEEN in October: Alba yearling males Merlin (VALM0165), Kronk (VALM018) and FunnyLittleGuy (VALM019), Jaxx Adult male Freddie (VJXM204), Trackie-Daks adult female Chinchilla (VTDF029), Trackie-Daks yearling female Mulan (VTDF046), Trackie-Daks yearling males Tsodiyo (VTDM042), Raisbe (VTDM043) and Jonesy (VTDM047), Ubuntu juvenile female Zuzu (VUBF086), Dik-Diks adult males Scramble (VDDM007), Jaivyn (VDDM048) and yearling male Braveheart (VDDM011). Vetkoeks pup VVKP032 was found deceased at the sleeping burrow, cause unknown.

Dik-Diks Jaivyn VUBM048 (in back) and Sobhuza VDDM013

Click here for the October 2025 Meerkatter.

Find the October 2025 Life History Chart here.

The October 2025 Group Territories Map is here.

Vetkoeks Blackjack (VVKM002)

Babysitting, a cooperative behavior that contributes to meerkat pup survival, is the focus of the September Meerkatter. The heroic actions of two babysitters – Vetkoeks Blackjack (VVKM002) and Brussels Sprouts Toadstool (VBSM013) – are highlighted.

It was raining pups on the Kuruman River Reserve this month! Six pups were born to Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160). Fennel (VJXP208), Woof (VJXP209), Sprout (VJXP210), Fifi (VJXP211), Matty G. (VJXP212), and Alvin (VJXP213) all emerged and had their first forage this month.  Vetkoeks dominant female Mooncake (VHMF053) gave birth to five pups. Zulus increased by five individuals with the birth of dominant female Leona’s (VZUF070) pups. Four pups of Hogwarts dominant female Salazar (VZUF051) emerged and had their first forage in September. Dik-Diks dominant female Juliet (VGDF009) gave birth to four pups and had their first forage this month as well.  Side Quest dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) gave birth to five pups.

Alba Bibu (VALM014)

Alba dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008) is confirmed pregnant. Yearling subordinate females Tress (VALF020) and Chia (VALF023) were evicted and are yet to return. Subordinate adult male Bibu (VALM014) was given his LAST SEEN.  Alba had two encounters with Renegades Do Bronx (VRGM003). He was chased away both times but remained close to the group.

Gold Diggers dominant female Goldeneye was pregnant in September but had not given birth by the end of the month. Adult subordinate female Manchego (VGDF054) was evicted, and adult subordinate female Serafina Pekkala (VGDF049) left the group. Sub-adult female Poes (VGDF070) was also missing from the group at the end of the month.  Gold Diggers had several encounters with (mostly) Lazuli males including yearlings Pot Belly (VLM317) and Fat Belly (VLM316) and subordinate adult Tinashe (VLM310).

Trackie-Daks Refilwe (VTDF041)

Female dominance at Trackie-Daks was confirmed. Yearling Refilwe (VTDF041) is the group’s new dominant female.  She gave birth this month, but her litter has yet to emerge by the end of the month.  Habituation is now complete at Trackie-Daks as dominant male Guido (VWM275) consistently drinks from the water bottle, can be weighed and allows close follows by the observers.

Elrond’s Council Snoop Kat (VECF039)

Elrond’s Council dominant female Snoop Kat (VECF039) has a deep open wound on her chest from an injury incurred last month. She was seen to be limping and lethargic.  Her radio collar was removed due to significant weight loss. Yearling female Cadenza (VECF059) is wearing the group’s radio collar.

Whiskers Sheila (VWF267)
Photo by Matt Shard

Female dominance at Whiskers is confirmed. Sheila (VWF267) received submissions from over half of the eligible females in the group. Both she and adult female Bruce are pregnant.

Jaxx subordinate female Brave (VJXF178) and Ubuntu yearling subordinate male Pap (VUBM074) were given their LAST SEEN.

Click here for the September 2025 Meerkatter.

Find the September 2025 Life History Chart here.

The latest Group Territory Map can be found here.

Ubuntu Pap (VUBM074)

Jaxx Brave (VJXF178)

Whiskers Gnoll VWF262
March 2025
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

The August Meerkatter is all about the KMP’s most famous group, the Whiskers.  Female dominance is still not officially confirmed. The three females who returned to the group in June – Bruce (VWF266), Kylie (VWF265) and Sheila (VWF267), were all pregnant in July. Both Bruce and Kylie’s litters were lost. Sheila gave birth on August 11th and three healthy pups emerged: Iron (VWP285), Katana (VWP286) and Maus (VWP287). Two days later, the previous dominant female, Gnoll (VWF262), approached the Whiskers burrow but was chased off and hasn’t been seen since.

August saw many pregnancies and births. Gold Diggers dominant female Goldeneye (VGDF007) was seen to be pregnant, along with Brussels Sprouts dominant female Arabella (VMPF035), Ubuntu dominant female Agazoth (VUBF039), and Vetkoeks dominant female Mooncake (VHMF053).   Dik-Diks dominant female Juliet gave birth, as did Zulus dominant female Leona (VZUF070), Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160), and Hogwarts dominant female Salazar (VZUF051).  There are indications that all of these litters are alive.

Trackie-Daks Unova VTDF037
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Vetkoeks had two intergroup interactions (IGIs) in August – one with Ubuntu and the other with Mandalore.  Both times Vetkoeks retreated, On August 2nd, (Whiskers natal) Mandalore adult male Floki (VWM241), approached the group multiple times but was war-danced away.

Female dominance at Trackie-Daks remains unknown. Chinchilla (VTDF029), a likely candidate for the position, left and returned to the group several times during the month but was absent at the end of the month. Another hopeful, Unova (VTDF037), has been gone from the group long enough to be considered emigrated out.

Hogwarts BuckbeakVHWM002 with Tolkien and Pushkin
Photo by Laura Salamone-maiden

Zulus was approached by Hogwarts subordinate yearling male Buckbeak (VHWM002), even following the group down into their sleeping burrow before being chased off.  Zulus was also approached by Brussels Sprouts adult male Gurke (VHMM036) who was also chased off.

Dik-Diks Devil VDDF005
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Dik-Diks subordinate adult female Tuna Fush II (VDDF026) and subordinate yearling females Devil (VDDF005) and Florentine (VDDF008) have been given their LAST SEEN. Elrond Council’s subordinate adult male Jatu (VECM071) was also given his LAST SEEN.

Find The August 2025 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the August 2025 Life History Chart.

For the latest Group Territories Map, click here.

Dik-Diks Florentine VDDF008
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Elrond’s Council Jatu VECM071 Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Coquillette (VTSM014) in 2024

Gary (VTDM033) in 2024

With no sightings of Renegades dominant female Maya II (VGDF039) since the 10th of June, Renegades has been officially disbanded. Dominant male Coquillette (VTSM014) was opportunistically sighted on the 10th of July along with the group’s four subadults. All appeared thin and Coquillette had what could be a burst TB lump on his groin. The remains and radio collar of subordinate adult male Gary (VTDM033) was found in a bird’s nest.  The July Meerkatter reviews how TB can lead to the disbandment of a meerkat group.

Two of Alba’s four unnamed pups born in June, disappeared and are assumed predated. Similarly, two of six pups born in June to Side Quest dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) also disappeared.

Female dominance at Trackie-Daks is still unknown after the death of former dominant female Boubou (VTDF019) last month.

Whiskers Luna (VWF235) and Bruce (VWF266) in 2023

Whiskers pup Pintabean with Sheila (VWF267) 2023
Photo by Livio Flueeler

Female dominance also remains unknown at Whiskers. Adult female Sheila (VWF267) is confirmed pregnant.  Her littermate sister, Bruce (VWF266) aborted her litter on the 21st.

Following the disappearance of Vetkoeks dominant male Mion (VZUM057) last month, male dominance at Vetkoeks remains unknown.  Adult male Floki (VWM241) from Mandalore was seen approaching Vetkoeks three times during the month.

Ubuntu Vamoose (VUBM072)

Ubuntu yearling males Vamoose (VUBM072), Hightail (VUBM073) and Chakalaka (VUBM076) were all given their LAST SEEN.

Find the July 2025 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the July 2025 Life History Chart.

The July 2025 Group Territory Map can be found here.