Category: General

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.

Ubuntu in the flowers 2021. Photo credit Zoe Turner, Meerkat Manager

Ubuntu finally has a new dominant male after Scar’s (VUBM021) disappearance in April 2021 – Jumper (VTSM017) from Trackie-Daks.  Four Ubuntu girls gave birth in January, including dominant female Daisy (VBBF111).

This month tuberculosis took another Namaqua meerkat.  This time it was yearling subordinate female Hiccup

Hiccup as a pup in March 2020. Photo credit Laura Salamone-Maiden

(VNQF016).  She had been suffering from TB since late September 2021.  On a more positive note, Namaqua dominant female, Manzai (VNQF013), gave birth to four pups.

Gold Diggers dominant female, Cleo (VGDF013), was given her last seen after having left the group in December.  Dominance competitions are taking place amongst three adult littermates, Fleabag (VGDF005), Goldeneye (VGDF007) and Juliet (VGDF009). Time will tell who comes out on top.

Gold Diggers on the move 2021. Photo credit Bieke Maex, Life History Coordinator

For the January 2022 Meerkatter click here.

Click here for the January 2022 Life History Chart.

Find the January 2022 Territories Map here.

Zulus Jay-A-Rod. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

There was a lot of drama and change in the new subgroup Make-e-Plan 4, initially made up of two Make-e-Plan females and three Namaqua males.  This month, the two females Arabella (VMPF035) and Vivienne (VMP038) left the Namaqua boys behind and joined up with notorious Hakuna Matata rover, Shandy (VHMM023), who attained dominance, Gurke (VHMM036) and Slop (VLM283). While both Arabella and Vivienne are likely pregnant, the battle for female dominance continues.

Another subgroup, Elrond’s Council 2, has also formed consisting of five Elrond Council females and adult subordinate male Jay-A-Rod (VWM216) and subordinate yearling male Godric (VZUM053), both from Zulus.  Jay-A-Rod and Pippin (VECF003) are the dominant pair.

Pumba in 2020. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

The Side Quest mob has increased to 11 individuals after dominant female Pumba (VZUF048) gave birth to three pups this month.

Whiskers now has 15 individuals with Swift (VWF176) and Brea (VLM157) continuing as the dominant couple.

Whiskers Brea and Swift in 2020. Photo by KMP Life History Coordinator Shaz Alderton

Gold Diggers dominant female Cleo (VGDF013) was missing at the end of the month.   Her three pups emerged mid-December but have been given their last seen after not been seen for 10 consecutive days.

For the December 2021 Meerkatter click here.

Click here for the December 2021 Life History Chart.

Click here for the current Group Territories map.