Category: General

Nightwatch Dominant Female Yorki VGDF033

This month we say goodbye to Nightwatch. The circumstances of the disintegration of the group were very similar to that of Make-e-Plan’s in March 2024 and are highlighted in the November Meerkatter. Dominant female Yorki (VDGF033) was the last remaining individual in Nightwatch. She was last seen on November 14 when her radio collar was removed. At that time, she was skinny, lethargic and uncoordinated, and had recently aborted her pregnancy.

Gold Diggers Maya II VGDF039 (L) and Ricky Baker VGDF031

A new sub-group, Gold Diggers 5, was formed with Nightwatch adult subordinate males Shrimp (VMPM070) and Waxillium (VMPM083) and (frequent!) Gold Diggers evictees adult subordinate females Ricky Baker (VGDF031) and Maya II (VGDF039). Shrimp and Waxillium were soon replaced by former Trackie-Daks dominant male Coquillette (VTSM014) and adult subordinate males Gary (VTDM033) and Johto (VTDM039).

Whiskers Gnoll VWF262

Over at Trackie-Daks, Whiskers adult male Guido (VWM275) took over the position of dominant male after it was vacated by Coquillette. And what started out as a promising beginning to new female dominance at Whiskers with Gnoll (VWF262), has ended in disappointment. Gnoll, seemingly ill, submitted to another female in the group, thus ending her bid for dominance. Whiskers yearling female Sheila (VWF267) gave birth this month, she is lactating, and the group is actively babysitting. Both male and female dominance at Whiskers remains unconfirmed.

Whiskers Sheila VWF267 in 2023

Evicted Side Quest adult subordinate female Motoko Kusanagi (VSIF013) continued to hang out near the group throughout the month, even sneaking in and out of sleeping burrows, but has still not been allowed back with the rest of the group.

Jaxx Dominant Male Sneaky VJXM170

Habituation at Jaxx is Complete with dominant male Sneaky’s (VJXM170) acceptance of KMP observers, the scale and water bottle.

Vetkoeks Dominant Female Mooncake VHMF053

‘Tis the season for rovers, evictees and pups, and there are plenty of pups including those at Alba, Brussels Sprouts, Elrond’s Council, Lazuli, Whiskers, Zulus and Vetkoeks – yes, Vetkoeks!

Lots more to read about in this month’s Meerkatter!

Click here to Find the November Meerkatter.

Find the November Life History Chart here.

For the November Group Territory Map, click here.

Lots going on in October – this is just a sampling!

Trackie-Daks dominant male Coquillette VTSM014

It’s meerkat breeding season which means rovers, intergroup interactions, pregnancies and births.  It also means evictions and there were plenty in October. As a result, group size with some of the main data collection groups decreased.  This is explained in detail in the October Meerkatter.

Trackie-Daks dominant male Coquillette (VTSM014) left on daily roving expeditions throughout the month. He is likely dominant female Boubou’s (VTDF028) father and looking for mating opportunities elsewhere. Boubou has also been seen separating from the group in an attempt to follow Coquillette. Boubou’s litter of five pups emerged and had their first forage with the group. Former Trackie-Daks adult subordinate males (three-legged) Moon Moon (VTSM022) and Raclette (VTDM017) made reappearances in the KMP population after missing since January 2024 and October 2023, respectively.

Ubuntu Bruindtjie VUBF063 in April 2024

Ubuntu Stokkies VUBF062

At Ubuntu, dominants Agazoth (VUBF039) and Greebo (VHMM048) evicted both females and males during the month, including yearling subordinate females Bruindtjie (VUBF063), Stokkies (VUBF062) and Tiddlywink (VUBF069) and adult subordinates Martini (VUBF061), as well as adult subordinate males Beans (VUBM053) Libby (VUBM058) and yearling male littermates Flibbertijibbet (VUBM066) and Hooligan (VUBM068).  Adult subordinate male Ringo (VUBM059) was found deceased by the side of the road after being hit by a vehicle. Dominant male Greebo was also hit by a vehicle but survived with no obvious injuries.

Alba dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008) gave birth to three pups. Adult subordinate male Palestrina (VLM211), the oldest meerkat in the current KMP population, frequently left to go roving. During one foray both he and yearling subordinate male Apollo (VALM010) had an encounter with Nightwatch and were seen mating with dominant female Yorki (VGDF033).  Palestrina left Alba on October 31st and has yet to return.

Gold Diggers Fernet Branca VGDF048

Gold Diggers Mikasa VGDF042

Gold Diggers adult subordinate females Fernet Branca (VGDF0465) and Mikasa (VGDF042) were given their LAST SEEN. Lazuli yearling subordinate female Nontokozo (VLF307) was bitten by a puff adder on the 13th and has not been seen after being left behind by the group that same day.

Zulus dominant female Spruddel (VZUF028) gave birth but her litter was lost. Later in the month adult subordinate Leona a.k.a The Unit (VZUF070) gave birth with three pups emerging.

Female and male dominance at Whiskers remains unconfirmed. The litters of adult female Archangel (VWF259) and yearling Kylie (VWF265) were lost. Yearling female Bruce (VWF266) aborted her litter. The third wild male immigrant was finally entered in the database as adult male Agent K (VWM276).

Click here for the October 2024 Meerkatter.

The October 2024 Life History Chart is here.

Find the October 2024 Territories Map here.

Whiskers Agent K VWM276

Ubuntu Ringo VUBM059

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.