Category: General

Dik-Diks Tuna Fish II and pups
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

The KMP’s newest group, the Dik-Diks, is featured in this month’s Meerkatter. First observed in January 2023, this group was formed by five Gold Diggers females and four Ubuntu males. Dik-Diks are off to a good start by giving birth to their first litter this month.

Gold Diggers Goldeneye (front) and Baymax
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

As expected, February brought many more meerkats to the KMP’s database. Gold Diggers dominant female Goldeneye’s (VGD007) latest litter had their first emerge, move and forage this month. Lazuli dominant female Sigma’s (VLF230) five pups emerged on the 26th. Whiskers dominant female Luna (VWF235) and Make-e-Plan’s dominant female Bridget (VQLF011) gave birth to three and two pups, respectively.

Alba Eldest Subordinate Male, Palestrina
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Elrond’s Council finds itself without a dominant male after Palestrina (VLM211) emigrated to Alba late January.

As feared, Namaqua is no more. With dominant female-by-default Mia’s (VNQF027) disappearance on the 10th, only three males remained including dominant male

The End of Namaqua – Shandy and Love
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Shandy (VHMM023). There must be both males and females to be considered a group. All three males are showing signs of TB.

Beloved adult subordinate male Captain Barbosa (VLM265) tried twice to re-join Ubuntu but was chased away both times.

For this month’s Meerkatter click here.

Find the February 2023 Life History Chart here.

Click here for the updated Group Territories Map.

Whiskers dominant male Brea
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Jaxx dominant female Baloo
Photo by Shaz Alderton

January’s Meerkatter highlights the KMP’s current “Golden Oldies” – meerkats living beyond the average wild meerkat lifespan, including Whiskers dominant male Brea (VLM157), Make-e-Plan dominant female Bridget (VQLF011) and Jaxx dominant female Baloo (VJXF080).  Congratulations Golden Oldies; you have beaten the odds!

New group Vetkoeks is holding steady at seven individuals including dominant female Mooncake (VHMF053) and her four new pups.

Elrond’s Council dominant male Palestrina (LM211) left Elrond’s Council with three other males and immigrated into Alba, pushing Alba dominant male Godric (VZUM053) out.  Palestrina and two of the Elrond’s Council males are competing for dominance.

Make-e-Plan dominant female Bridget
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

The future is not looking bright for Namaqua.  The group is down to seven individuals.  Former dominant female Manzai (VNQF013) was given her LAST SEEN after showing signs of advanced tuberculosis.  Current dominant female Mia (VNQF027) and three other individuals all have TB lumps.

Palestrina VLM211
Photo by Shaz Alderton

Click here for the January 2023 Meerkatter.

Find the January 2023 Life History Chart here.

Find the updated Group Territory Map here.

Lazuli dominant female Sigma
Photo by Tal Kleinhause

Meerkat breeding season is explained in this month’s Meerkatter.  While there were a lot of pregnancies within the KMP’s groups in December, the majority of the litters were lost.  However notably, Lazuli dominant female Sigma (VLF230) gave birth to a litter of four pups, that included the 300th individual to be part of this famous long-lived group.

Ubuntu dominant female Cthulhu
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

A new dominant female has emerged in Ubuntu following Daisy’s (VBBF111) death in October.  After dominance competitions between adult subordinate females Cthulha ((VUBF035), Masekind (VUBF037) and Agazoth (VUBF039), Cthulha is now in Ubuntu’s top spot.  Also in Ubuntu, beloved Captain Barbosa (VLM265) was again attacked and ousted by the group’s dominant male on a couple of occasions this month.  While it was hoped he would form a subgroup of his own, Captain Barbosa remains on his own in close proximity to the group.

Namaqua dominant female Manzai
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua’s dominant female, Manzai (VNQF013) is suspected to have succumbed to TB.  She was too weak to forage with her family and did not wake up with them on December 8th.  As a result, Mia (VNQF027) is Namaqua’s new dominant female.

Zulus dominant male Scuzi in 2020
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Zulus dominant male Scuzi (VWM213) was given his LAST SEEN after leaving the group the beginning of November.

For the December 2022 Meerkatter click here.

Find the December 2022 Life History chart here.

The group territory map was not updated this month.

Zulu’s dominant male Scuzi seen with sour grass scars around his eyes. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

A couple more dominants were lost this month.  Long-time Zulu’s dominant male, Scuzi (VWM213), disappeared in early November and Brussels Sprouts dominant male James (VGDM011) left the group at the end of the month. Male dominance is currently unsettled in both groups.

Alba’s new dominant male Godric. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Dominance changes occurred in several groups.  Godric (VZUM053) took on the role of dominant male in Alba after the loss of Jay-A-Rod (VWM216) in October. Shandy (VHMM023 assumed dominance in Namaqua following dominant male Umfana’s (VZUM034) probable death from TB.  In Ubuntu, Agazoth (VBUF039) and Cthulhu (VBUF035) were both pregnant after vicious dominance competitions following the loss of the group’s dominant female Daisy (VBBF111) late October.  It is likely that one of these two pregnant females is Ubuntu’s new dominant female.

Brussels Sprouts Vivienne. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Brussels Sprouts adult subordinate female and snake -bite survivor, Vivienne (VMPF038), was given her LAST SEEN.

The KMP’s newest group, Vetkoeks, was seen four times this month within the reserve.  The group consists of Zulu male littermates Bear (VZUM056), Mion (VZUM057) and Zuma (VZUM059) and Hakuna Matata yearling female, Mooncake (VHMF053).  The group’s main territory is in a neighboring farm, near Hakuna Matata’s territory.

Click here for the November 2022 Meerkatter.

Find the November Life History Chart here.

The group territories map was not updated this month.