Category: General

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.

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 (VUBM048) 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