Category: General

Hogwarts Helga
Photo by Sofya Melinkova

Whiskers Kylie
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

It is now breeding season in the Kalahari which means we can expect roving males and new pups in the coming months. Births, abortions and infanticide are all covered in this month’s Meerkatter.  Side Quest already has three little pups foraging with the group. Trackie-Daks dominant female Boubou (VTDF028) and Hogwarts adult female Helga (VZUF052) both gave birth in September – their pups still in their burrows.

There are six official pregnancies in five groups, all of which are soon reaching delivery dates.  Whiskers adult female Archangel (VWF259) and yearlings Bruce (VWF266) and Kylie (VWF265) are all pregnant,

Whiskers Bruce
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Whiskers Black Dragon
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

as are Alba dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008) and Elrond’s Council dominant female Snoop Kat (VECF039).  Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160) aborted her latest litter.

Female and male dominance are still unconfirmed with Whiskers.  Male dominance is unknown at Elrond’s Council and Nightwatch.

On September 14th, Whiskers yearling female Black Dragon (VWF264) was found deceased, likely from a predator attack. Adult female Gnoll (VWF262) now wears the group’s collar.

Whiskers Gnoll and Archangel in 2023
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Jaxx adult female Baloo (VJXF080) was given her LAST SEEN.  With this, the oldest known female currently in the KMP population is Zulu’s dominant female Spruddel (VZUF028) at age 7.5 years.

Also LAST SEEN this month are Lazuli adult subordinate male Vegeta (VGDM038) and Ubuntu yearling subordinate female Scallywag (VUBF067).

Ubuntu Scallywag
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Lazuli Vegeta
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Find the September 2024 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the September 2024 Life History Chart.

The latest Group Territories Map can be found here.

Baloo with her pups Sahara and Gobi in April 2024
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

The story of the Cape Crusaders is highlighted in this month’s Meerkatter.  Cape Crusaders had not been seen since the end of February, but a group of meerkats thought to be Cape Crusaders has had numerous encounters with Side Quest in July. One of the meerkats was wearing a radio collar – most likely dominant female Rosetta (VCCF004), with a malfunctioning radio collar.

Jaxx dominat female Jub Jub
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Usually, female dominance in a meerkat group is inherited by the eldest daughter after her dominant female mother has died or gone missing. However, there are instances when the dominant female is overthrown by her daughter.  This occurred within Jaxx in November 2023 when eldest daughter Jub Jub  (VJXF160) took over dominance when her mother, then-dominant female Baloo (VJXF080), was in a weakened state from a puff adder bite.  Female succession is discussed in the latest Meerkatter.

Jaxx eldest subordinate female, Baloo, who would be ten years old in December, has not been seen since August 10.  Male dominance remains unconfirmed at Jaxx.

Alba Ozzie
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Alba adult subordinate male Ozzie (VECM033) was given his LAST SEEN, as was Side Quest sub-adult female Granita (VSIF031). Side Quest dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) gave birth on the 17th.

Side Quest Pumba and Otje
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Male dominance is still unconfirmed at Elrond’s Council, however the group had 20 encounters with unknown adult males this month.

All members of Nightwatch appear to be in good health.  There are currently no signs of tuberculosis with any individual. Male dominance is still unknown.

Vetkoeks are still hanging in there with just four individuals. Phoenix was visited five times during the month.

Whiskers Medusa
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Female dominance is unknown with Hogwarts. Adult female Helga (VZUF052) is pregnant.

Female and male dominance is still unsettled with Whiskers. Yearling female Medusa (VWF263) was given her LAST SEEN.

The August 2024 Meerkatter can be found here.

Click here for the August 2024Life History chart.

For the latest Group Territory Map, click here.

Trackie-Daks Boubou
photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Nightwatch Sticky VMPM064
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Trackie-Daks dominant female Boubou (VTDF028) spent a night with Nightwatch at their sleeping burrow following an IGI between the two groups. Observing this behavior by a dominant female was a first for the KMP.  Read more about this unusual event in the July Meerkatter.

The position of dominant male is still vacant with Nightwatch, Elrond’s Council and Jaxx.  Dominance competitions in Nightwatch have included adult subordinate males Sticky (VMPM064), Oozy (VMPM067) and Shrimp (VMPM070).  Elrond’s Council dominant female Snoop Kat (VECF039) has had encounters with an unknown wild adult male. This male was seen emerging from Elrond’s Council’s sleeping burrow with the rest of the group on two occasions this month.

Gold Diggers Habituation is considered Complete, now that subordinate female Ricky Baker (VGDF031) allows volunteers to follow her and can be consistently weighed.

Elrond Council Snoop Kat
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Side Quest dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) is officially pregnant.  Subordinate female Granita (VSIF031) has been gone since mid-July.

Side Quest Granita VSIF031
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Hogwarts habituation is classed as In Progress. Adult females Salazar (VZUF051) and Helga (VZUF052) accept volunteers sitting next to them and are easy to weigh. Juvenile male Buckbeak (VHWM002) and the wild male still need work.

The group composition of Mandalore is still unknown although Floki (VWM241) has been seen during visits with five unknown meerkats.

Phoenix was visited six times in July.

Male and female dominance remains unsettled with Whiskers. Yearling subordinate female Medusa (VWF263) did not wake up with the group on July 4th and has not subsequently been seen.

Whiskers Medusa VWF263
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Find the July 2024 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the July 2024 Life History Chart

The July 2024 Group Territories Map can be found here.

Floki VWM241 in 2022
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

An article on the KMP’s habituation process is presented in the June Meerkatter, with progress updates on several of the project’s habituation groups, including Whiskers, and a new group named Mandalore.  Mandalore is comprised of 8-10 meerkats and occupies an area in Whiskers territory. One of the males has been identified as Whiskers adult subordinate male Floki (VWM241) and has been fitted with a radio collar.  Floki was last seen in November 2022. Time (and transponder scans) will tell if there are other previously known individuals in this group.

Nightwatch Sushi VTSM006
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Nightwatch eldest subordinate male Sushi’s (VTSM006) predated remains were found this month.  He was likely a victim of a terrestrial predator, perhaps a cape fox.  The story of this former Make-e-Plan dominant male and co-founder of Trackie-Daks, is featured in this month’s Meerkatter. Sushi had visible advanced tuberculosis symptoms at the time of his death, so a close watch is being kept on the rest of the group for any other infected individuals.

Zulus Salazar in 2023
Photo by Harry Ames

At the new habituation group, Hogwarts, adult subordinate female, Salazar (VZUF057), was fitted with a radio collar.  This should make finding the group easier and more frequent.

After more than six months, the Phoenix group has been spotted several times at one of its sleeping burrows.

Phoenix in 2022
Photo by Deborah Mary Lanzi Mazzocchini

Male and female dominance is still unsettled at Whiskers. Male dominance remains unconfirmed or unknown at Elrond’s Council, Jaxx and Nightwatch.

Find the June 2024 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the June 2024 Life History File.

The June 2024 Group Territory Map can be found here.