Category: General

Make-e-plan’s Stinky VMPF063. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Make-e-plan’s numbers significantly increased with the emergence of 15 pups from dominant female Bridget (VQLF011) and three subordinate yearling females.  The events that followed these births describe the sometimes-heartbreaking challenges the observers must face in the course of their work with the Project.  The full story is in this month’s Meerkatter.

The two factions of Brussels Sprouts have not reunited after splitting in March following an IGI with Gold Diggers.  Gold Diggers adult males, Jack (VGDM010) and James (VDM011), immigrated into the original group in which Arabella (VMP035) remains dominant.  Male dominance is unsettled between Jack and James, the only unrelated adult males in the group. In the other faction, Brussels Sprouts 2, Shandy (VHMM023) remains the dominant male.  Both Shandy and subordinate male Gurke (VHMM036) must leave the group for encounters with females as there are no adult females in this group of five.

Elrond’s Council’s Palestrina and Langa. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

As predicted, Calypso (VECF027), dominant female of Elrond’s Council, was given her LAST SEEN this month after a birth gone bad in April.  Adult subordinate male, Langa (VZUM033), was also given his LAST SEEN.

Namaqua’ s Megara VNQF020. Photo by Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua’s TB-infected yearling subordinate female Megara (VNQF020) was given her LAST SEEN.  No other individuals in Namaqua are showing signs of TB.  Let’s hope this marks the end of the run of this devastating disease within the group.

All is status quo at Whiskers.

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

For the May 2022 Meerkatter click here.

The May 2022 Life History Chart is found here.

Click here for the most recent group territories map.

Elrond’s Council March 2022. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

This month Elrond’s Council dominant female Galadriel (VECF032) was given her LAST SEEN and her recent litter was lost.  Successor dominant female Calypso’s (VECF027) stillborn litter last month took its toll on her.  She disappeared early in April, appearing quite ill. Elrond’s Council’s two remaining females are related to dominant male Palestrina (VLM211) which leaves future dominance of the group in question.

Elrond’s Council dominant male Palestrina. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

The missing half of Brussels Sprouts was found this month.  While the group is not back together, dominant male Shandy (VHMM023), adult subordinate male Gurke (VHMM06), and the three now-juveniles Totoro (VBSF001), Lyra (VBSF002) and Love (VBSM003), are all safe and sound.  For now, this subgroup is called Brussels Sprouts 2.

Namaqua Megara March 2022. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

Namaqua yearling subordinate female Megara (VNQF020) who had been showing signs of TB, has not been seen since April 8.  Fortunately, no other individuals in the group are showing signs of TB.

Ubuntu’s dominant male Jumper (VTSM017) was killed when he was hit by a car on the main road.  Captain Barbosa (VLM265) has reclaimed dominance.

Ubuntu Captain Barbosa. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

For the April 2022 Meerkatter click here.

The April 2022 Life History chart is found here.

Click here to view the April Groups Territory Map.

The concept of “burrow sweeping” to find uncollared groups is explained in this month’s Meerkatter.

Arabella searching for missing Brussels Sprouts March 2022. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

In Brussels Sprouts, Arabella (VMPF035) was collared assuming she was the dominant female since the only other adult female in the group, Vivienne (VMPF038), was seen submitting to her.  Following an inter-group interaction with Gold Diggers, the group split with Arabella, Vivienne and two pups still present.  The whereabouts of dominant male Shandy (VHMM023), subordinate male Gurke VHMM036 and the other three pups is unknown.

Pregnant Calypso March 2022. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

Former Elrond Council dominant female Galadriel (VECF032) disappeared from the group on the 4th and has not been seen since.  Shortly before taking over dominance at the end of the month, yearling female Calypso gave birth to three stillborn pups and has been in poor health since.

Hakuna Matata were only seen twice this month as they have been spending most of their time on a nearby farm that cannot be visited.  The good news is that when they were seen last, they had four pups in tow.  Adult subordinate female Azizi (VHMF039) was given her last seen.

Whiskers Luna with March 2022 pups. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

Whiskers increased in size to 21 with the emergence of 6 pups from a mixed litter.  Swift (VWF176) and Brea VLM157 continue their reign as the dominant couple.

Find the March 2022 Meerkatter here.

Click here for the March 2022 Life History Chart.

March 2022 Group Territories map is here.

Tragic happenings occurred with Gold Diggers this month.  Following the infanticide of three pups by pregnant subordinate female BMO (VGDF020), the remaining pups from three litters were abandoned when the group moved burrows.  Infanticide is discussed in this month’s Meerkatter.   Female dominance is still unsettled in Gold Diggers.

On February 3rd, Hakuna Matata left their usual territory for a neighboring farm where they cannot be followed.  Volunteers are checking their known territory on a regular basis for their return.

Alba pups
Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Alba (formerly Make-e-Plan 4) Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Elrond’s Council 2 is now officially a group and renamed Alba, Alba is the Scots- and Irish-Gaelic name for Scotland.  This group name was submitted by a Scottish meerkat volunteer and won the vote!

Make-e-Plan 4 is also now an official group and is renamed Brussels Sprouts.  Female dominance is unsettled between Arabella (VMPF035) and Vivienne (VMPF038), the only two adult females in the group.

Yet another meerkat is showing signs of tuberculosis at Namaqua.  Yearling

Namaqua Megara
Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

subordinate female Megara (VNQF020) was observed to have two small submandibular lumps and is losing weight.

For the February 2022 Meerkatter click here.

Find the February 2022 Life History Chart here.

Click here for the current Groups Territory Map.