Category: General

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.

Magali VUBF023
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

A sweet story of Magali (VUBF023), the evicted Ubuntu female who founded the short-lived Near-Death Experience with Namaqua Shandy (VHMM023) and Love (VBSM003) in April 2023, is presented in this month’s Meerkatter. Surprisingly, Magali’s newest companions are a group of Cape Ground Squirrels!

Jude (VMPM071), the sole survivor of the doomed Make-e-Plan mixed litter of 13 pups born in April 2022, is also featured in the September Meerkatter.

Palestrina VLM211
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Ozzie (VECM033) lost his dominance at Alba by submitting to adult male, Palestrina (VLM211). Ozzie had taken dominance from Pucky (VECM023) just a few months ago.  While Palestrina previously sat in the throne at both Zulus and Elrond’s Council, dominance competitions continue at Alba, and male dominance is currently uncertain.

Trackie-Daks adult subordinate female Hachi’s (VWF238) swelling of her left cheek has gone down but continues to be monitored to rule out the possibility of tuberculosis.

Zulus Dominant Female Spruddel
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Zulu’s dominant female Spruddel (VZUF028) still has no partner since dominant male Scuzi’s (WVM213) disappearance in November 2022. However, she recently gave birth, proving that at least she is finding a little love on the side.

Vetkoeks Dominant Female Mooncake with Sea Biscuit
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Vetkoeks continue to struggle to increase its group size.  Dominant female Mooncake’s (VHMF053) litter was lost before emergence this month.  Of the six individuals that currently make up Vetkoeks,    Mooncake is the only female.

Whiskers Dominant Male Brea
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Whiskers dominant male Brea (VLM157) left Whiskers on September 30th following an alarm call.  He has yet to return. Earlier in the month, he turned 14 years-old, earning the record as the oldest meerkat ever in the KMP.

Click here for the September 2023 Meerkatter.

Find the September 2023 Life History Chart here.

For the Group Territories Map click here.