Category: General

Zulus Pixie and Jay-a-Rod (front). Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

For the first time in four months, Zulus has a dominant male.  After ongoing battles amongst the three Whiskers – Pixie (VWM201), Scuzi (VWM213) and Jay-a-Rod (VWM216), Scuzi emerged the victor.

Elrond Council Smeagol (VECM006) was thought to have been bitten by a puff adder, suffering a severe forearm injury, labored breathing and fatigue. He had difficulty keeping up with the group. By the end of the month, he showed significant improvement and is expected to recover fully.

Habituation of the wild individuals at Lazuli is progressing well.

Namaqua Heatherleigh (VQLF018) gave birth this month but only one pup was seen emerging.  It is possible that other pups were killed by a monitor lizard that had been seen in the babysitting burrow.  Bonnie (VWM209) was given his last seen.  He had been displaying signs of TB in January when he was left behind by the group.

Zulus new dominant male Scuzi, Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Click here for the February 2020 Life History Chart here.

Find the February 2020 HM, UB, W Life History Chart here.

Find the February 2020 Meerkatter here,

Click here for the February 2020 HM, UB, W Life History details.

Make-e-Plan dominant female Bridget. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Immediately prior to the filming of the new season of Meerkat Manor, Lazuli’s habituation status changed as a result of three wild males immigrating into the group.  For this reason Lazuli could not be filmed and was replaced by Ubuntu.  Life History information can now be provided on Lazuli but not on Ubuntu for the time being.

The KMP is awash with pregnant meerkats.  Dominants in Make-e-Plan, Namaqua, Tswana and Zulus are currently pregnant.  Jaxx Baloo (VJXF080) gave birth to four pups.

There is still no clear dominant male in Zulus.  Pixie (VWM210) was observed submitting to both Scuzi (VWM213) and Jay-a-Rod (VWM216). Pixie is sporting a nasty neck wound.

Find the January 2020 Life History Chart here.

Click here for the HM, UB, W LH Chart.

Jaxx dominant female Baloo marking a burrow. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Click here for the HM, UB, W Life History details.

Find the January 2020 Meerkatter here.

Namaqua dominant female Heatherleigh. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Lazuli dominant male Polon with pups Weasel and Fledermaus. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

This month brings the best news and the worst.  The good news is that the Oxford Scientific film crew will be returning to the KMP to gather footage for the next iteration of the popular television show, Meerkat Manor.  Approximately six months of filming will begin next month. The new season is expected to air in 2021 or early 2022.  In order to avoid any spoilers, information on the three groups to be filmed – Whiskers, Lazuli and Hakuna Matata- will not be published in future Meerkatters and Life Histories, but may be at a later date.

The bad news is that Polon (VJXM095), beloved dominant male of Lazuli was predated on the 13th of this month.  His life story is featured in this month’s Meerkatter.  At eight months old, Polon became the youngest dominant male in the project’s history.  He fathered 28 individuals during his reign.  Polon was an endearing character and will be greatly missed.

Find the December 2019 Life History here.

Click here for the December 2019 Meerkatter.

Pet’s claws. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

KMP favorite, Pet (VCM001) is featured in this month’s Meerkatter. Pet was first seen as a juvenile in 2011 with now Whiskers dominant male Brea (VLM157) and brother Rubio (VLM155). With no fear of humans and a botched declaw on his right paw, it was suspected he had previously been kept a s a pet and hence his name, Pet.  Pet and Alan Johnson’s Beemer (VLF206) formed Hakuna Matata in 2016.  Pet returned to his roving ways in July of this year after the loss of Alan Johnson’s Beemer, but returned to the project farmhouse area this month and is seen on a daily basis. Now approximately 8 years old, it is hoped that Pet will rejoin to Hakuna Matata.

Former dominant male and co-founder of Hakuna Matata, Pet. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

There was a baby boom at the KMP this month.  Contributing was Whiskers dominant female Swift (VWF176) who gave birth to her 21st litter.

(Little) Creatures was found at the beginning of the month and The Worm’s Heart (VCRM010) was collared.

Little Creatures The Worm’s Heart. Photo by meerkat volunteer Lea Sueur

Find the November 2019 Life History details here.

Find the November 2019 Meerkatter here