Category: General

Whiskers Luna VWF235
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

With the recent predation losses of Cape Crusaders dominant female Timon (VZUF049), Jaxx and Lazuli adult subordinate males Cigarette Smoking Man (VJXM153) and Beatrice (VGDM014), and Trackie-Daks former dominant female Fly (VWF237), an insightful and relevant article on meerkat predators, predation, and alarm calls, is presented in this month’s Meerkatter.

Zulus Dominant Male Baymax VGDM028
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

The group, Make-e-Plan, is highlighted in the January Merkatter as well. Its dominant female, Bridget (VQLF011), the oldest meerkat in the KMP’s current population and the last Quintessentials meerkat, went missing on January 6th.  Following an IGI with Gold Diggers and a group split resulting in the formation of a new group, Gold Diggers 4, Make-e-Plan is down to just 8 individuals.

There continues to be a handful of groups where dominance is still unknown or unsettled. Cape Crusaders and Elrond’s Council are still without a known dominant male. Trackie-Daks, Jaxx and Whiskers have no clear dominant female.  Previously absent Jaxx former dominant female Baloo (VJXF080) woke up with the group on January 11th.  Whiskers former dominant female Luna (VWF235)                                                                      was given her LAST SEEN.

Dik-Diks Dominant Female Juliet VGDF009
Photo by Charlotte Bendell

Zulus finally has a new dominant male, with Gold Diggers Baymax (VGDM028) taking this position. Juliet (VGDF001) is Dik-Diks new dominant female.

Brussels Sprouts Dominant Female Arabella VMPF035
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Brussels Sprout’s dominant female Arabella (VMPF035) gave birth with one pup emerging.  This little group of five could use all the help they can get.

Alba’s adult subordinate female Tuktuk (VALF001) was given her LAST SEEN this month.  TukTuk was the first named Alba member when she was a pup. Alba’s dominant female Tolkien (VECF019) was bitten by a snake on January 25th and is still missing at the end of the month.

Alba Dominant Female Tolkien VECF019
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Phoenix was seen for the first time in three months.

Alba Tuktuk VALF001
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Find the January 2024 Merkatter here.

Click here for the January 2024 Life History Chart.

For the current Group Territories Map, click here.

Whiskers Luna VWF235 and pup Pintabean VWM26
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Gold Diggers rovers and their quests for male dominance in 2023 are highlighted in the December Meerkatter.  These boys include Baymax, (VGDM028), James (VGDM011), and brothers Beatrice (VGDM014) and Rogelio de la Vega (VGDM015).

The Whiskers endured many changes in 2023. A detailed review and update of this beloved group is also presented in this month’s Meerkatter. With the immigration of several wild males, Whiskers group status went from ‘Full Data Collection’ to ‘Habituation’. With Zuma’s (VZUM059) exit from the group in mid-November, male dominance is currently undetermined.  Prior dominant male Brea (VLM157) was officially given his LAST SEEN this month. Female dominance is unsettled with the disappearance of dominant female Luna (VWF235) mid-month.

Jaxx Baloo VJXF080 and Leonard VLM221
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Female dominance also remains unsettled at Jaxx.  While former dominant female Baloo (VJXF080) has fully recovered from her snake bite injuries, she has not been accepted back into the group. Loyal dominant male Leonard (VLM221) has been seen with Baloo on several occasions during the month.

Zulus Helga VZUF052
photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Zulus dominant female (VZUF028) gave birth mid-December, but her litter was lost before emergence. Adult subordinate female Helga (VZUF052) was observed committing infanticide with one of the pups.

Trackie-Daks Fly VWF237
Photo by Harry Ames

Trackie-Daks dominant female Fly’s (VWF237) most recent litter of four emerged. Sadly, Fly was found predated on December 30th, leaving the group without a dominant female.

Find the December 2023 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the December 2023 Life History Chart.

For the December 2023 Groups Territory map, click here.

Jaxx Dominant Female Baloo VJXF080
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Jaxx dominant female Baloo (VJXF080) was bitten by a snake, the details of

Jaxx The Dude VJXM142
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

which are featured in the November Meerkatter.  Her pregnancy was terminated, and she lost her dominance status within the group, although this may only be temporary. Jaxx subordinate male The Dude (VJXM161) was given his LAST SEEN.

Runaways moved further onto a neighboring farm where there was little opportunity for data collection on the group. Therefore, Runaways were officially abandoned as a monitored group on the 21st of November. When last seen, only four females of the nine members were present.

Brussels Sprouts James (Sawyer) VGDM011
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

At Brussels Sprouts, male dominance was settled after James (Sawyer) (VGDM011) received direct submissions from all the eligible males. Brussels Sprouts had two inter-group interactions with Zulus as Brussels Sprouts moved further into Zulus territory.

Lazuli Dominant Male Rogelio De La Vega VGDM015
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Former Gold Diggers male Rogelio De La Vega (VGDM015) became Lazuli’s new dominant male following the death of his littermate, subordinate male Beatrice (VGDM014), whose remains were found up a tree.

There is still no dominant male at Zulus. but dominant female Spruddel (VZUF028) was officially made pregnant on the 24th of November.

Gold Diggers Beatrice VGDM014
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Finally, with the immigration of 3-4 wild males, Whiskers is no longer a Full Data Collection group.  The current focus is on (re)habituation. Adult subordinate Rollo (VWM240) and yearling subordinate males Scrabble (VWM253), Clue (VWM255) and Battleship (VWM257) have emigrated out of Whiskers and have been sighted far off the reserve with an unknown meerkat group.

Find the November 2023 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the November 2023 life History Chart.

The groups Territory Map is found here.

Whiskers Brea VLM157
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Whiskers Dominant Male Zuma
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

The October Meerkatter is all about the life of Whiskers former dominant male Brea (VLM157).  Brea has been absent since October 2nd. Due to his advanced age of14 years, he is assumed to have passed away.  Zulus-born Zuma (VZUM059) left Vetkoeks and immigrated into Whiskers on October 24, taking over the position of dominant male. Whiskers dominant female Luna’s (VWF235) last litter of pups were given their LAST SEEN on October 5th.

Madhubala VALF006
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

At Alba, the group is finally settled with Palestrina (VLM211) being confirmed as the new dominant male.  Palestrina has previously been the dominant male at Zulus and Elrond’s Council. Alba dominant female Tolkien (VECF019) lost one pup from her recent litter of three.  Emigrant yearling subordinate females Maya (VALF003) and Madhubala (VALF006) were given their LAST SEEN. Perhaps they will eventually turn up in a group of their own. Yearling subordinate male Nigoni (VALM004) was spotted at the Gannavlakte farmhouse with none other than adult female (and friend of squirrels) Magali (VUBF023).

Yearling male Chilli (VBSM005) took over male dominance from Gurke (VHMM036) following continuous dominance assertions at Brussels Sprouts.  Dominant female Arabella’s (VMPF035) litter was lost before emergence.

Cigarette Smoking Man
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Jaxx suffered several losses in October. Pups Igglybuff (VJXP186) and Cleffa (VJXP187) were assumed predated. Cigarette Smoking Man’s (VJXM153) radio collar was found under a nest.

At Lazuli, dominant male Odin (VLM266) relinquished his dominant position to go roving with other Laz boys, leaving Lazuli without a dominant male.  Dominant female Dumpling’s (VLF272) five pups from her most recent litter have emerged.

Runaways Dominant Male Shiraz VJXM122
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Dik-Diks dominant female Fleabag (VGDF005) has been missing since October 27th and Runaways dominant male Shiraz (VJXM222) has been absent since mid-month.

Click here for the October 2023 Meerkatter.

Find the October 2023 Life History Chart here.

The Group Territories Map is found here.