Category: General

Elrond’s Council with the May 2020 pups. Photo by Shaz Alderton, Life History Coordinator

A potential record number of pups in one litter may have occurred in Elrond’s Council this month as nine pups were seen emerging for the first time o the 25th.  While DNA samples from the pups have yet to be analyzed, it is thought that all of the pups were from dominant female Tayl Baez (VBBF117).  A more likely scenario is that this litter is a mixed litter from Tayl Baez and an undyed yearling female who was spotted occasionally in the group and was thought to be pregnant.

Elrond Council youngsters. Photo by meerkat volunteer Laurie Johnson.

Five other groups had births during this Kalahari winter month including Make-e-Plan, Namaqua, Ubuntu, Jaxx and Lazuli.

Click here for the May 2020 Life History chart.

Find the May 2020 Meerkatter here.

Namaqua dominant male Lewie with pups. Photo by meerkat volunteer Tal Kleinhause

Lazuli Sigma’s VL1903 litter born March 2019. Photo by meerkat volunteer Jessica Granweiler.

Re-habituation of Lazuli continues and good progress has been made.  The group is now fully dye-marked.  Three wild males had immigrated into the group after dominant male, Polon (VJXM295), was predated making it impossible to follow the group and collect ad-lib data.  Both of dominant female Sigma’s (VLF230) pups born last month are last seen and assumed predated.

Seven pups of the original nine Zulu pups from potentially three different litters have survived and have had their first forage with the group. This increases the group total to 15 individuals.

Zulu’s dominant couple Scuzi and Spruddel. Photo by KMP visitor Coral Hanson

Significantly, two or three subordinate females’ were able to successfully give birth without being evicted by the dominant female Spruddel (VZUF028) who was also pregnant for a short time this month.

Find the April 2020 Life History chart here.

Click here for the April 2020 Meerkatter.

This month a subgroup of Lazuli, Lazuli 2, formed but was short-lived.  Annie (VLF240) and Lennon (VLF246) left Lazuli on the 10th and a few days later they were seen moving one of the dominant female Sigma’s (VLF230) pups to another burrow 500 meters away.  The following day, Hakuna Matata rover, Shandy, (VHMM023) was at the burrow with the Lazuli girls and the pilfered pup.  By the end of the month, Annie and Lennon and the pup had returned to Lazuli.

Rock Monitor Lizard seen in Make-e-Plan territory April 2020. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Make-e-Plan dominant female Bridget’s (VQLF011) six pups born last month were not seen after being left in a bolt hole while out foraging with the group.  It is suspected they met their fate to a rock monitor lizard seen in the area.

Vivienne (VMPF038) was found to have injuries to the face and

Make-e-Plan Vivienne with snake bite. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

head consistent with a snake bite.  She is recovering well.

In Zulus, there is an unknown number of pups in the burrow as three subordinate females – Lentil (VZUF032), Li’l G (VZUF029) and Timon (VZUF049) – all gave birth this month.  Four have been seen in the burrow entrance.

Find the full March 2020 Life History Chart here.

The full March 2020 Meerkatter can be found here.

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.