Category: General

Namaqua Heatherleigh and Hiccup March 2020. Photo by meerkat volunteer Maggie Campbell-Jones

New subgroup Lazuli 3 was renamed ‘Aristokats’.  Since none of its members were seen as pregnant, it is suspected that the two-week old pup that turned up with the group this month was stolen from the most recent Jaxx litter.  The longevity of Aristokats is tentative since its few member keep coming and going in and out of the group.  Time will tell if this new sub-group sticks around.

In Jaxx, five pups born to dominant female Baloo VJXF080 emerged and have been foraging with the group.

Jaxx Baloo with pups in 2017. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua continued to have losses due to tuberculosis.  Quarrel VNQM010 has not been sighted since last month and is considered Last Seen.  Dominant female Heatherleigh VQLF018 did not emerge with the group on the 3rd and has not been seen since.

One pup was seen in the new Phoenix group, bringing the total members to 15.  Habituation level in In Progress.

For the November 2020 Life History chart click here.

Find the November 2020 Meerkatter here.

Make-e-plan Arabella and Mushu. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Subgroups was the name of the game in October.  New subgroups developed from Make-e-plan – referred to as Fake-e-plan and from Lazuli, named Lazuli 3.  Dominance has not been settled within these two new groups with the exception of Little Creatures The Worm’s Heart VCRM010 as dominant male by default in Lazuli 3 since he is the only male.

In Namaqua, dominant male Lewie VLM228 was overthrown by Sauce VZUM026 from Elrond’s Council.  As a result, Lewie returned to his roving ways.  Heatherleigh VQLF018 has remained the dominant female despite her extremely poor condition due to TB.

Sauce, new dominant male of Namaqua. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Jaxx dominant female Baloo VJXF080 gave birth, however an unknown number of pups remain in the burrow.

Click here for the October 2020 Life History chart.

Find the October 2020 Meerkatter here.

Namaqua Tussle, Zuko and Mononoke Hime. Photo by Life History Coordinator Shaz Alderton

Tuberculosis has resurfaced in Namaqua.  Yearlings (and littermates) Tussle VNQM008, Melee VNQM007, Ambush VNQM006, Quarrel VNQM010 and Skirmish VNQF009 were all showing symptoms.  Ambush disappeared last month and is considered Last Seen.  Tussle and Melee disappeared on different days this month and have yet to return to the group.  Quarrel started showing symptoms including labored breathing.  X-rays indicated TB in his lungs.  Dominant female Heatherleigh VQLF018 has a noticeable submandibular lump, is emaciated and fatigued.

A new group of 18 individuals has been acquired on the KRR – dubbed ‘Phoenix’.  A young female was trapped and collared and named Pinky VPHF001.  Habituation of Phoenix has begun.  It is suspected that there are young pups in a babysitting burrow in their territory. 

Jaxx dominant female Baloo VJX080 aborted her last litter but is again pregnant at the end of the month.

Find the September 2020 Life History chart here.

Namaqua Quarrel. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone

Click here for the September 2020 Meerkatter.

Namaqua renovating a burrow. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Zulus dominant female Spruddel’s VZUF028 latest litter has survived to emergence – a first for her.  Of these two pups, only one remains at the end of the month; the other assumed predated while foraging with the group.

Gold Diggers dominant male Shrew. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Gold Diggers finally have a dominant male.  Ubuntu’s Shrew VUBM018 has taken on that position.  The dominant female is still undetermined.

Jaxx dominant female Baloo VJXF080 is pregnant.

Jaxx dominant female Baloo with Monkey Mouse  in 2017. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua had an inter-group interaction (IGI) with Zulus but Namaqua retreated before any contact, avoiding any resulting injuries.  Yearlings Melee VNQM007 and Tussle’s VNQM008 body condition have deteriorated  for undetermined reasons.

Find the August 2020 Life History chart here.

Click here for the August 2020 Meerkatter.