Category: General

Brussels Sprouts dominant male James (Sawyer) VGDM011

Renegades Maya II and Johto

The curse of the tainted territory on the east side of the KRR, near Gannavlakte, continues. Renegades now appear to be headed toward the same fate as two previous groups that had occupied the same territory, Make-e-Plan and Nightwatch. Both these groups were disbanded due to tuberculosis (TB). In February 2025, the submandibular lumps seen on Renegades former dominant female Ricky Baker (VGDF031) and adult subordinate female Maya II (VGDF039) were determined not to be tuberculosis. But in March, Ricky Baker and her pup Laseless (VRGP005) disappeared, likely relative to TB – either due to direct health deterioration or increased vulnerability to predation. TB and the disbandment of groups is presented in detail in the May 2025 Meerkatter.

May was a fruitful month for several meerkat groups. Brussels Sprouts increased to 10 members with the birth of 4 pups. Gold Diggers increased their numbers to 20 with the birth of 5 pups, and Lazuli stands at 14 members with the emergence                                                                  of 5 pups.

Gold Diggers March 2025

Gold Diggers Serafina Pekkala (VGDF049)

Gold Diggers adult subordinate female Serafina Pekkala (VGDF049) was evicted by dominant female Goldeneye (VGDF007) at the beginning of the month.  She was allowed back into the group, shortly before Goldeneye’s pups emerged, gave birth herself, but lost the litter.

Vetkoeks dominant male Mion (VZUM057) did not wake up with the group on May 9th and has not returned by the end of the month. Pup Pona (VVKP030) and sub-adult male Ody (VVKM021) are also missing at the end of the month.

Two pups, VDDP021 and VDDP023, from Dik-Diks’ mixed litter of 12 (that emerged last month) were given their LAST SEEN.

Whiskers Kylie (VWF265)

Whiskers Archangel (VWF259)

Female dominance is once again unsettled at Whiskers. Whiskers dominant female Archangel (VWF259) disappeared on May 25th. Subordinate adult female Gnoll (VWF262) did not wake up with the group this same day. On the 29th, adult females Kylie, Bruce and Sheila immigrated back into the group and began competing for dominance.  They had left Whiskers in January after Archangel assumed dominance.

Find the May 2025 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the May 2025 Life History Chart.

The May 2025 Group Territories Map is found here.

Elrond’s Council Dominant Female Snoop Kat (VECF039)

Dik-Diks Dominant Female Juliet (VGDF009)

This month’s Meerkatter follows up on the outcomes of the differing strategies of the dominant females at Elrond’s Council and Dik-Diks in dealing with pregnant subordinates. Elrond’s Council dominant female Snoop Kat’s (VECF039) and Dik-Diks dominant female Juliet’s (VGDF009) strategies were first described in last month’s Meerkatter. Snoop Kat evicted two pregnant subordinates late in gestation. Juliet opted not to evict three pregnant subordinates. There were very different outcomes that impacted the rest of their respective groups.

At the beginning of April, there were 23 pregnancies across the groups! Five pups of Alba dominant female Cleopatra (VALF008) emerged this month, as did five pups of Jaxx dominant female Jub Jub (VJXF160), and four pups of Side Quest dominant female Pumba (VZUF048). One pup at each Vetkoeks, Whiskers, and Zulus were seen. Dominant females at Brussels Sprouts, Lazuli, Trackie-Daks, Gold Diggers and Ubuntu gave birth but their litters are yet to emerge by the end of the month.

Dik-Diks Shelby (VDGDF022)

Dik-Diks subordinate female Shelby (VGDF022), evicted in December 2024, was accepted back into Dik-Diks.  Jaxx former dominant male Sneaky (VJXM170) emigrated out of Jaxx. Male dominance at Jaxx is unconfirmed.  Lazuli subordinate adult male Subigubi (VUBM050) was given his LAST SEEN. Subordinate yearling female Otje (VSIF028) and sub-adult Pudding (VSIF038) are considered emigrated out of Side Quest.

Lazuli Subigubi (VUBM050) in his natal group with pups Flibbertijibbet and Tiddlywink in 2023

Renegades previous dominant female Ricky Baker (VGDF031) and pup Laseless (VRGP005) were given their LAST SEEN. Adult female Maya II (VGDF039) gained dominance as the only eligible female in the group. Maya II gave birth this month, but the litter was lost.

Vetkoeks Blackjack (VVKM002)

Vetkoeks subordinate adult male Blackjack (VVKM002) was found deceased on the main road, hit by a car. He had previously lost an eye after being bitten by a snake.

Whiskers juvenile female Sibusisiwe (VWF227) was given her LAST SEEN this month.

Find the April 2025 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the new Life History Chart.

Find here the Key to the new Life History Chart.

The April 2025 Group Territories Map can be found here.

Whiskers Sibusisiwe (VWF277)

Alba Orlov with injured foreleg
Photo by Sofya Melnikova

Late rains in the Kuruman River Reserve have extended the meerkat breeding season. There were 22 pregnancies recorded in March. The more rain, the more resources there are for the meerkats. How the different groups manage so many simultaneous pregnancies varies. This month’s Meerkatter highlights how two groups – Elrond’s Council and Dik-Diks – handled these multiple pregnancies during the month.

Elrond’s Council Dominant Male Jonsnow (VECM070)

A few pups were given their LAST SEEN in March including Alba Orlov (VALM026), Side Quest Boo (VSIM044), and Brussels Sprouts solo pup, Dropke (VBSF015).

Male dominance has been confirmed at Elrond’s Council with Jonsnow (VECM070) taking on the top male position. Male dominance is still unconfirmed at Jaxx. Jaxx former dominant male Sneaky (VJXM170) is considered to have emigrated out of the group.

Trackie-Daks VTD2501/VTD2502 litter pups

Trackie-Daks pups Kibo (VTDF049), Sip (VTDP050), Timone (VTDF051) and Meeko (VTDF052) foraged with the group for the first time this month. Ubuntu’s six pups – Pawpaw (VUBM080), Moppie (VUBF081), Fifi (VUBP082), Stella (VUBF083), Baba (VUBF084), and Koka (VUBM085) – joined their family on their first forage as well.

Zulus Dominant female Spruddel – March 7, 2025

Sadly, beloved, long-time Zulus dominant female Spruddel (VZUF028), was predated on her birthday, March 10th. She was pregnant at the time. That same day, her daughter, Leona aka The Unit (VZUF070), immigrated back into the group after having been evicted and took over as the group’s dominant female.

At Renegades, dominant female Ricky Baker (VGDF031) and pup Laseless (VRGP005) were not with the group on March 25th and had not returned by the end of the month.

Vetkoeks dominant female Mooncake (VHMF053) is one of the many meerkats that is pregnant this month. Juvenile female Brownie (VVKF020) was given her LAST SEEN. Despite the loss of Brownie, the group is finally increasing their numbers.

Hogwarts juveniles Tolkien (VHWM007), Pushkin (VHWM006), Rowling (VHWM005) and dominant male Caraxes (VHWM004) March 2025

Ubuntu Pawpaw (VUBM080) and Koka (VUBM085)

Hogwarts dominant female Salazar (VZUF051) gave birth this month and five pups have emerged. True to their group name, these little pups were all named after Harry Potter characters.

Finally, at Whiskers, female pups Amarula (VWF280) and Anita (VWF282), subordinate male Gojo Satoru (VWM274) and juvenile female Bubblegum (VWF278) were all given their LAST SEEN. The group now numbers 10 individuals.

Vetkoeks Seabiscuit (VVKM022) and Ody (VVKM021)

Find the March 2025 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the March 2025 Life History Chart.

The March 2025 Group Territories map can be found here.

Whiskers Archangel, Gnoll, Raclette and pup Luna

The Whiskers meerkat group is one of the Friends’ favorite groups and certainly the best-known of all the KMP groups. Whiskers has had a rough go of things over the past year. The February Meerkatter details the trials and tribulations of this beloved group following former dominant female Luna’s (VWF235) disappearance in December 2023.

Orlov (VALM026), the Alba pup with a leg injury, disappeared on February 26. He was able to use his injured leg when he was last seen. The KMP observers noted that Alba rallied around this little guy – often feeding him more than he could even consume.

Brussels Sprouts Dropke
Photo by Lily Hambric

Brussels Sprouts dominant female Arabella’s (VMPF035) single pup, Dropke (VBSF015), emerged for the first time this month and joined the group on her first forage. Brussel’s Sprouts now numbers seven individuals with the addition of this solo pup.  Former Zulus adult subordinate female Leona, aka The Unit (VZUF070),

Zulus Leona in 2024

was seen foraging with Brussels Sprouts adult subordinate male, Gurke (VHMM036), and later went down into the Brussels Sprouts’ sleeping burrow before being chased off. Leona is considered emigrated out of Zulus. Despite this, Leona has stayed close to her natal group. Zulus had 16 encounters with her this month. On a couple of occasions, she sneaked into the Zulus sleeping burrow.

Gold Diggers dominant female Goldeneye (VGDF007) gave birth in February, but the three pups have not been seen since a burrow move and the litter is considered LOST. Lazuli adult subordinate male Subigubi (VUBM050) was seen mating with Goldeneye. He was chased away by Gold Diggers dominant male Shrew (VUBM018).

Lazuli Dominant Male Rogelio de la Vega

Lazuli dominant female Masiiwa (VLF308) also gave birth this month, but dominant male Rogelio de la Vega (VGDM015) was seen killing one of the pups.  This litter is also considered LOST.

Ubuntu Pups with Babysitter Pap

Ubuntu dominant female Agazoth (VUBF039) and yearling subordinate female Hotfoot (VUBF039) gave birth this month.  Six pups have emerged.

Five pups at Renegades have emerged. Both dominant female Ricky Baker (VGDF031) and adult subordinate female Maya II (VGDF039) have submandibular lumps, along with other injuries, however these have been determined not to be tuberculosis.

Vetkoeks Blackjack with Snake-bite Injury

Renegades Maya II with Pups. Photo by Makgabo Mokale

Two of Vetkoeks’ dominant female Mooncake’s (VHMF053) three pups were given their LAST SEEN, most likely predated by a snake. Yearling male Blackjack (VVKM002), who was babysitting when they disappeared, was seen with head injuries consistent with those of a snake bite. He is currently blind in one eye, thin and has facial swelling and necrosis.

Find the February 2025 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the February 2025 Life History Chart.

The February 2025 Group Territories Map can be found here.