Category: General

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.

Make-e-Plan original dominant male Pi with the 2018 Kardashian litter . Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

This month’s Meerkatter highlights Make-e-Plan on the group’s four year anniversary.  This group was created by two Qunitessential females Bridget VQLF011 and Heatherleigh  VQLF018, and Zulus male Pi VZUM006.  Early on, this group was exposed to tuberculosis when two of the three Van Helsing males that immigrated into the group after dominant male Pi was predated, were infected with the disease.  Since the passing of these two males,  Make-e-Plan has been TB-free,  Current dominant male Banksia VVHM117 was the third Van Helsing male who immigrated into the group.  Banksia is the sole remaining individual born into Van Helsing.  Bridget has remained dominant female since the group’s inception whereas Heatherleigh went on to become dominant female of Namaqua.

Make-e-Plan current dominant male Banksia. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Gold Diggers had a setback in their habituation due to an unmarked wild female yearling emerging with the group one morning.  There is still no clear dominant female or male in the group.

Four of the five Lazuli pups that emerged last month are assumed predated.

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

Find the July 2020 Life History chart here.

Find the July 2020 Meerkatter here.

Ubuntu Shrew. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

This month Gold Diggers habitation improved considerably with the immigration of Ubuntu Shrew (VUBM018). As Shrew is bigger and older than all the other potential dominant males in the group, he is a strong contender for this position.

Lazuli finally has a new dominant male – Odin (VLM266), one of the three wild males who immigrated into the group after the former dominant male, Polon’s, death.

Elrond’s Council is now fully dye-marked.  The yearling Galadriel (VECF032), was the final individual to be dyed.  She is also assumed to be one of the mothers of the latest mixed litter along with the dominant female Tayl Baez (VBBF117).

Jaxx Shepard (VJXF127) was found dead, presumably from injuries she sustained from the cactus in which her body was found.

Jaxx Shepard.  Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maidenbody was found.

The June 2020 Life History chart can be found here.

The June 2020 Meerkatter is here.

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