Author: Laura

Elrond Council’s Charlie, Arya, and Tolkien in 2020. Photo by Life History Coordinator Shaz Alderton

This month Elrond’s Council dominant female Tayl Baez VBBF117 was given her last seen.  She is assumed deceased since her radio collar continued to give off signal at a burrow without the rest of the group for several days. Tayl Baez’s story is featured in this month’s Meerkatter.

Jaxx had an encounter with wild meerkats, resultig in the death of a juvenile wildy.

Gold Digger’s habituation status is in Advanced Progress.  All individuals are dye-marked, weighable and two-hour follows are possible.

Pumba and Timon in December 2019. Photo by Life History Coordinator Shaz Alderton.

A new group has been found and named Side Quest.  It consists of Zulus Adult sisters Pumba VZUF048 and Timon VZUF049, Elrond’s Council adult male Legolas VECM009 and four juveniles.

For the May 2021 Meerkatter click here

Find the May 2021 Life History Chart here

Zulus Sauce in 2018. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Sadly, Namaqua’s dominant male Sauce VZUM026 was predated by a Martial Eagle this month.  Born into Zulus in 2016 to then-dominant female Poma VZUF007, he is profiled in this month’s Meerkatter.   Also in Namaqua, both yearling subordinate females Mononoke Hime VNQF014 and Manzai VNQF013 immigrated back into the group after leaving in January.  They had been considered Last Seen last month.

Pup emergences continue this month, most notably with Gold Diggers with their mixed litter of ten pups!  These pups were all from subordinate females including Meghan VGDF018, Goldeneye VGDF007 and Fleabag VGDF005.  By the end of the month all ten pups were still present and all had been out foraging on several occasions.  Gold Diggers habituation level is in Advanced Progress now.  All individuals have been dye-marked and the group is able to be followed by observers for up to two hours

Zulus Sauce in 2018. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

For the March 2021 Life History chart click here.

Find the March 2021 Meerkatter here.

Not to be outdone by 21 pregnancies last month, this month boasts 24 pregnancies, 18 of them with subordinates.  Unfortunately with so many pregnant meerkats, there is also loss including lost pups due to natural abortion and infanticide.  If you are sensitive to these normal meerkat occurrences, do not open this month’s Meerkatter as the photos are graphic.

Make-e-plan dominant female Bridget. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

There were many pup emergences this month including a litter of six born to Jaxx dominant female Baloo VJX080, seven born to Make-e-plan dominant female Bridget VQLF011, six pups to Runaways, five to Phoenix and four to Trackie-Daks (formerly Tswana2).

Namaquu Manzai with young Hiccup in March 2020. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua subordinate yearling females Monoke-Hime VNQF014 and Manzai VNQF013 were absent throughout the month so are considered Last Seen.

Click here for the February 2021 Life History chart.

Find the February 2021 Meerkatter here.

With large amounts of summer rains on the reserve comes food-a-plenty and many pregnant meerkats – 21 in total!  Both dominants and subordinates in Gold Diggers, Jaxx, Lazuli, Runaways (formerly Fake-e-plan), Zulus, Namaqua and Make-e-plan were pregnant or gave birth this month.

Runaways dominant male Shiraz. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Make-e-plan subgroup Fake-e-plan is now recognized as a fully

Young Maverick with Bigwig in April 2020. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

established group and now named ‘Runaways’.  Bigwig VMPF022 is confirmed as dominant female.  She is currently pregnant as is subordinate Scylla VMPF025.  Two other pregnant subordinates, Cirilla VMPF06 and Hope VMPF029 were evicted.  Shiraz VJXM122 has been dominant male since last month after battling his littermates Merlot VJXM121 and Grigio VJXM126.

Zulus adult subordinate male Pixie VWM210 and yearling subordinate females Pumba VZUF048 and Timon VZUF049 are considered Last Seen.

Find the January 2021 Life History chart here.

Find the January 2021 Meerkatter here.

Zulus Timon, Lil’ G and Pumba. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden.