Category: General

Gold Diggers Goldeneye (VGDF007) and Shrew (VUBM018)

Lazuli Pot Belly VLM317

This month, an increase in roving males and heavily pregnant females within the KMP meerkat population suggests that breeding season is approaching. Rover drama with Lazuli, Gold Diggers, Ubuntu and Vetkoeks is featured in the July Meerkatter. Trackie-Daks dominant female Refilwe (VTDF041), Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160), Ubuntu dominant female Agazoth (VUBF039) and Hogwarts dominant female Salazar (VZUF051) are all confirmed pregnant. A chart in the July Meerkatter offers an insightful comparison of the number of pups born each month over the past six years.

Following an intergroup interaction (IGI) between Lazuli and Gold Diggers, Gold Diggers dominant female Goldeneye (VGDF007) was seen away from the group with Lazuli subordinate male Pot Belly (VLM317) mounting her. Gold Diggers dominant male Shrew (VUBM018) spent the rest of the morning field session mate guarding Goldeneye.

Jaxx Mikey (VJXF220 ) as a pup

Ubuntu Koka (VUBM085)

There were 9 group splits at Alba during July, however all 25 members were back together at the end of the month. The Alba members with tuberculosis (TB) symptoms mentioned last month have continued to decline with burst lumps and weight loss. There are also signs of TB showing in Florence (VALF031), Pembroke (VALM036), Juanita (VALF040), and Lil-Mookie (VALM048).

Brussels Sprouts subordinate male Gurke (VHMM036) was not present with the group at the end of the month.  Subordinate male Gizmo (VBSM018) is also showing signs of TB.

Jaxx juvenile female Mikey (VJXF220) was given her LAST SEEN.

Ubuntu Julieta (VUBF098) as a pup

Elrond’s Council Rza (VECM066) and Scholesy (VECM078) in front

There is an increase in dominance competitions between subordinate females at Side Quest as dominant female Pumba’s (VZUF048) health continues to decline from TB. Dominant male Legolas (VECM009) has not been seen since July 22nd.  He was just 578 grams prior to leaving the group.

On the 11th, Ubuntu subordinate male Koka was killed after being hit by a vehicle. Juvenile female Julieta (VUBF098) was given her LAST SEEN.

Elrond’s Council decreased by one individual. Subordinate male Scholesy (VECM078) has not been seen since July 7th.  Rza (VECM066), Iron Mike (VECM073) and Noah (VECM076) continue to worsen in condition and struggle to keep up with the group. Adult female Cadenza (VECF059) and subordinate female Amaya (VECF077), Gazza (VECM080) and Slabhead (VECM081) are now also showing signs of TB.

Princess Carolyn (VTDM013)

Only 9 individuals were seen at Khoisan this month (down from 14). Since July 6th, adult male Princess Carolyn’s (VTDM013) radio collar continued to beep from the same spot within the sleeping burrow.

Whiskers subordinate adult male Agent K (VWM276) and subordinate female Luna (VWF279) woke up with the group on July 2nd after being absent at the end of last month.

Click here for the July 2026 Meerkatter.

Find the July 2026 Life History Chart here.

For the July Group Territory Map, click here.

Lazuli Bumble (VLF320)

Lazuli Pataud (VLF319)
Photo by Emma De Klerk

For Lazuli, June began with just 11 members, no dominant female and only two females in the group. June’s Meerkatter features the story of these two sisters, Pataud (VLF319) and Bumble (VLF320) battling for dominance.

Alba experienced a decline in the health of many of its members this month. Signs of tuberculosis (TB) are seen in dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008), dominant male Pucky (VECM023), and in subordinates Tress (VALF020), Chia (VALF023), Xue (VALM024), Bachue (VALF025), Sunbeam (VALM028), Little-Creek (VALF033), Lorraine (VALF041) and Speedy Gonzales (VALM027). Samurai’s (VALM027) submandibular lump burst and he has lost considerable weight.

Zulus Rainbow (VZUM078) and pup
Photo by Sean Nelson

Brussels Sprouts had several encounters with Zulus males including Rainbow (VZUM078). Brussels Sprouts yearling male Porcini (VBSM012) has a submandibular lump.

Lazuli Finn (VLM317)

Lazuli juvenile male Finn (VLM328) was given his LAST SEEN.

Side Quest subordinate adult male Tex (VSIM035) is still showing signs of TB, but his health has remained stable. Dominant male Legolas (VECM009) and dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) are both in worsening condition. Yearling female Jungo (VSIF048) is now showing signs of TB as well.

Brussels Sprouts Porcini (VBSM012)
Photo by Sean Nelson

Whiskers Agent K (VWM276)
Photo by Matt Shard

Both male and female dominance remains unconfirmed at Elrond’s Council. The group consists of 9 individuals. Subordinate males Rza (VECM066), Iron Mike (VECM073) and Noah (VECM076) continue to show TB symptoms.

Female and male dominance is currently unknown at Khoisan.  The vast majority of its 14 members suffer from advanced TB.  Princess Carolyn (VTDM013) has a large submandibular lump.

Whiskers Agent K (VWM276) was absent from the group at the end of the month.  All Whiskers members appear to be in good health.

Find the June 2026 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the June 2026 Life History Chart.

For the June 2026 Group Territories Map, click here.

Alba

Side Quest Mrs. HS Balls (VSIF047)

The May Meerkatter features an article on meerkat strategies to maintain contact with one another during foraging sessions. Communication is key as individuals can spread out over a large expanse of ground and be out of sight from one another in the tall sour grass.  Group splits are also discussed, highlighting a recent event with the KMP’s second largest group, Alba (AL).  Other groups that split during May were Jaxx (JX) and Zulus (ZU).

Female dominance with Lazuli remains unconfirmed, however yearling females Pataud (VLF319) and Bumble (VLF320) have been displaying dominance behaviors. Lazuli juveniles Liv (VLF329) and Elmo (VLM331) were given their LAST SEEN.

Male dominance is still unconfirmed at Vetkoeks. Vetkoeks had two intergroup interactions (IGIs) in May – both with Whiskers, with no injuries on either side reported.

Lazuli Bumble (VLF320)

Lazuli Pataud (VLF319)

Side Quest dominant male Legloas (VECM009) and subordinate adult male Tex show large burst submandibular lumps and are beginning to lose weight. Dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) is in worsening condition with burst lumps on her legs. Her radio collar was removed and placed on yearling female Mrs. HS Balls (VSIF047).

Elrond’s Council Madarauchiha (VECM068) was given his LAST SEEN. He was last observed with severe TB symptoms. Subordinate male Noah (VECM076) has a small submandibular lump and open lumps on his legs. Both male and female dominance at Elrond’s Council remains unconfirmed. The group is currently comprised of nine individuals.

Alba Samurai (VALM027)

Alba yearling male Samurai (VALM027) continues to display a submandibular lump.

Ubuntu juvenile male Sam I Am (VUBM093) was given his LAST SEEN.

Khoisan (KS) appears to have decreased by two individuals and now stands at 15 members. The majority of the group members, including Princess Carolyn (VTDM013), show TB symptoms.

Find the May 2026 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the May 2026 Life History Chart.

The May 2026 Group Territory Map can be found here.

Lazuli Dominant Female Masiiwa (VLF308)

Lazuli Liv (VLF329)

The focus of the April Meerkatter is on the recent tragic events that occurred with the KMP’s oldest meerkat group – the Lazuli. History repeated itself on the 20th for a third time in a row with the death of Lazuli’s dominant female Masiiwa (VLF308) from a snake bite. On April 12, subadult female Liv (VLF329) went missing sometime between the morning and afternoon data-collection sessions. That same day, juvenile female Elmo (VLF331), the only remaining individual from her litter, was lethargic and had difficulty keeping up with the rest of the group. She did not wake up with the rest of the Lazuli the next morning.  Subadult male Baxter (VLM327) disappeared on the 18th and was suspected to have also succumbed to envenomation from a snake.

Lazuli Baxter (VLM327)

Lazuli Elmo (VLM331)

On the first of April, Gold Diggers pup Marty (VGDM088) was killed after being hit by a car.

Ubuntu subordinate juvenile male Sam I Am (VUBM043) went missing during the morning session and has not been sighted since.

On a positive note, Vetkoeks is going strong with 17 individuals comprising the group, however male dominance is still unconfirmed.

Gold Diggers Marty (VGDM087)

Ubuntu Sam I Am (VUBM093)

Alba adult male Bibu (VALM014), suffering from advanced tuberculosis (TB), was given his LAST SEEN after being last sighted foraging alone on March 30th.

Similarly, subordinate yearling male Madarauchiha (VECM068), who was also suffering from advanced TB, did not wake up with his group on the 21st, and remains absent at the end of the month. Subadult male Noah (VECM076) has developed lumps on his paws and nose.

Unfortunately, for the KMP’s newest group, Khoisan, the majority of its individuals, including known male Princess Carolyn (VTDM013), appear to be suffering from TB symptoms.

Vetkoeks

Elrond’s Council Madarauchiha (VECM068)

Find the April 2026 Meerkatter here.

For the April 2026 Life History Chart click here.

The latest Group Territory Map is found here.

Elrond’s Council Noah (VECM076)