Category: General

Swift and Brea, Whiskers dominant couple Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

September was a noteworthy month for the Whiskers with both highs and lows. Dominant male Brea (VLM157) turned a record 13-years-old, making him the oldest meerkat in the history of the KMP.  He looks a bit worse for wear these days, but he is hanging in there! Sadly though, his long-time partner, dominant female Swift (VWF176), passed away of unknown causes shortly before his birthday.  Swift’s adult daughter Luna (VWF235) took over dominance.  Without Swift, and Luna likely being Brea’s daughter, Brea’s future in Whiskers is now uncertain. On an encouraging note, for the first time in 6 months, there are surviving pups in Whiskers from a mixed litter of Laika’s (VWF236) and Flake’s (VWF247).

Whiskers Luna
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Former Trackie-Daks dominant female, Whiskers-born Bel-Hurricane (VWF231), resurfaced after disappearing in early July.  While she has not re-joined Trackie-Daks, she is sticking close by.

Swift’s son, Alba dominant male Jay-a-Rod (VWM216), was assumed to have been predated.  His radio collar was found in a bird of prey’s nest.  Alba dominant female Pippin (VECF003) was given her LAST SEEN this month as well.

Alba with dominants Jay-a-Rod and Pippin
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Find the September 2022 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the September 2022 Life History Chart.

The Group Territories Map is found here.

Namaqua dominant male Umfana. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

The project’s dominant females were very busy this month.  Almost every group’s female leader gave birth!

Subgroups, including Zulus 4, Make-e-Plan 5, and two unnamed groups, were featured in this month’s Meerkatter.

Namaqua dominant female Manzai. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua suffered more losses from tuberculosis, including its dominant male Umfana (VZUM034).  The mob is now down to eight individuals. Other members, including dominant female Manzai (VNQF013), are showing signs of TB as well.

Ubuntu’s habituation is now complete due to adult subordinate male, Captain Barbosa’s (VLM265), improved comfort level around the KMP observers.  Following the disappearance of the group’s dominant male, Ogg (VHMM047), his littermate brother, Greebo (VHMM048) has taken over

Ubuntu Captain Barbosa. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

the top spot next to dominant female Daisy (VBBF111).

Whiskers dominant female Swift (VWF176) gave birth, but her litter was lost before emergence.

Click here for the August 2022 Meerkatter.

Find the August 2022 Life History Chart here.

Elrond’s Council Mojo Jojo and Shisharka. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

With the disappearance of Elrond’s Council dominant female Calypso (VEC027) in April, Elrond’s Council remains unstable and its future uncertain.  Two remaining yearling females, Mojo Jojo (VECF038) and Snoop Kat (VECF039), have been competing for dominance for four months.  At issue is that they are both likely to be the offspring of the group’s dominant male, Palestrina (VLM211), and probably would not mate with him.

This month’s Meerkatter features an article on a number of previously LAST SEEN individuals who have resurfaced.  It’s a good reminder that LAST SEEN doesn’t always mean gone for good!

Long-missing Lazuli Slop, as a pup. Photo by Lea Sueur

Almost Last Seen Zulus Bear and Mion. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Make-e-Plan’s surviving, previously abandoned pups, Jude (VMPP071) and Ranger (VMPM073), are hanging in there.  These two little ones were off to a rough start.  Fingers crossed they continue to persevere.

A baby boom is coming! Dominant females in Alba, Brussels Sprouts, Gold Diggers, Lazuli, Namaqua, Ubuntu, Whiskers and Zulus are all pregnant.

Namaqua dominant male Umfana. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua dominant male, Umfana (VZUM034) is showing symptoms of tuberculosis, Yearling subordinate male, Hanspeter (VNQM029), who was also suspected of suffering from TB, disappeared mid-month.

Find the July 2022 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the July 2022 Life History Chart.

Here is the July 2022 Groups territory Map

Ubuntu Artemis with pups including Donut.
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

An overview of the previous pup birth record in Ubuntu and other happenings in the group are highlighted in this month’s Meerkatter.   There is a new dominant male after the death of Jumper.

Brussels Sprouts and Brussels Sprouts 2 finally met up again after being separated for three months.  After a series of events spanning several weeks, the group was reunited (and it feels so good!) with the exception of Shandy (VHMM023) and juvenile male, Love (VBSM003), both who are now considered roving males.  Brussels Sprouts now numbers nine individuals and Brussels Sprouts 2 is disintegrated.

Shandy in 2018.
Photo by Shaz Alderton

Hakuna Matata were seen three times this month but still spending the majority of the time on a nearby farm. Fourteen individuals were seen.  One of the sightings was an intergroup interaction (IGI) with Whiskers.

After last month’s abandonment of the Make-e-plan pups, 9 of the 15 pups born into the mixed litter were given their LAST SEEN.

Namaqua did not have much of a reprieve from TB.  Yearling subordinate Hanspeter VNQM029 is now showing visible signs of the disease.

Namaqua Hanspeter (L) and dominant male Umfana (R)
Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Find the June 2022 Meerkatter here.                  Click here for the June 2022 Life History Chart

The Group Territory Map can be found here.