Category: General

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.

Trackie-Daks Sketchy Bongo, July 2021. Photo credit Tara Naeser, Meerkat Volunteer

This month’s Meerkatter features the goings-on with Trackie-Daks.  Dominant female BB (VTDF010) was given her last seen after disappearing in late October.  Adult subordinate male Sketchy Bongo (VTSM019) emigrated into Make-e-Plan. Several other Trackie-Daks individuals were also given their last seen and by the end of this month the group was down to 10 individuals from 16.  Adult subordinate male Sushi (VTSM006) has been displaying dominance behaviors at Make-e-Plan as dominant male Banksia (WVHM117) has yet to resurface and has been given his last seen.  Female dominance in Trackie-Daks has not been sorted out among the two remaining females, Fergalicious (VTSF020) and Tara

Trackie-Daks Tara, July 2021. Photo credit Tara Naeser, Meerkat Volunteer

(VTDF001).

Only one pup remains out of four born to Elrond Council’s subordinate female Pippin (VECF003) in late October.

Dominant females from Elrond Council, Gold Diggers, Jaxx, Lazuli, Namaqua, Runaways, and Side Quest are all pregnant or gave birth this month.

Elrond’s Council pup, September 2021. Photo credit Maddie Koeplin, Meerkat Volunteer

For the November Meerkatter click here.

Click here for the November Life History Chart.

For the November Group Territories Map click here.

Jaxx rover Rincewind
Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

October was marked by pup losses.  Among those, one pup from Elrond’s Council dominant female Galadriel’s (VECF032) previous litter, all three pups of Lazuli dominant female Sigma (VLF230) either dead or missing, and all pups from Phoenix and Zulus have not been seen since last month,  Make-e-Plan dominant female Bridget’s (VLQF011) pups never emerged.

A new subgroup formed consisting of Make-e-Plan subordinate females Vivienne (VMPF038) and Arabella (VMPF035) and Namaqua adult Male Zuko (VNQM012) and yearling male littermates Barney (VNQM018) and Cooper (VNQM019).  No dominance has been decided.  Temporarily dubbed Make-e-Plan 4, the group will become official and be given a new name if they stay together for two more months.

Make-e-Plan Vivienne with snakebite injury April 2020. Photo by KMP visitor Laura Salamone-Maiden

Make-e-Plan Viviene’s snakebite scar November 2020. Photo by Life History Coordinator Shaz Alderton

Namaqua’s Hiccup (VNQF016) has more advanced TB symptoms now, including submandibular lumps on both sides, coughing and emaciation.  No other individuals in Namaqua are showing signs of TB at this time.

Roving behavior is explained in this month’s Meerkatter which can be found here.

Click here for the October Life History chart.

The Group Territory Map is found here.