according to the new december '07 meerkat name list on the friends site, zaphod (who just turned 9) is by far the oldest male meerkat currently in the study, and he is the oldest overall. grumpy is 2nd, just a little over a year younger, and jo jo hello is a distant 3rd, almost 4 years younger. it has been sad to see all of the other elder meerkats meet their demise. we've lost jim bob, alexander, and possibly rhian. i realize it is possible that youssarian or some other veteran meerkat is alive and well in an unhibituated group, but i worry about zaphod. when he goes, there will be none left from the beginning of the show. i find it peculiar he was not seen roving in the november kmp report. it could mean either he has mated with monkulos (mm maybelline), or thinks she will be receptive to him the next time around. it more likely means he is maybe too old and tired to be playing the roving game full time. i hope he has many more happy years, but i am only cautiously optimistic that he will be on the name list that is released a year from now. it is somewhat fitting that he is the last of the "old guard". to me he was the most successful of the bunch (youssy, jim bob, alexander) GO ZAPHOD!!

Well, obviously there is something about the Aztecs that Zaphod likes! Maybe it is just that the group seems to have fewer encounters than the Whiskers. Maybe it's just an easier place for a meerkat to retire. I hope he has the golden years he deserves!

You would think that if he was looking for a place to retire that he would have picked the Whiskers since there is more safety in numbers. I also would think that his urge to mate would be stronger then any urge to retire in peace and safety. No matter where he goes he will still have to prove he's the man to keep the dominant position. Aztecs are a small group that could easily be invaded by even a relatively small coalition of males that could gang up on the old boy. I hope not but he would be far safer at Whiskers.

Larry

Good points, Larry.

You know what they say about voting with your feet.

I think Zaphod's done that.

Even though he is older, I'm sure he can still hold his own...

Voting with your feet?

It just means that Zaphod is where he wants to be right now.

I may be in the minority here, but I'm glad he has chosen to stay with the Aztecs for now. I think he is helping that group get off to a good start.

Ninjamom, I couldn't agree more. The Aztec really need Zaphod, and Zaphod needs them. I wish he stays there, he can help them get off to a good start, and they can keep him safe. They are, afterall his family. Monkulus is his niece, and the rest are his doughters and sons and grand-daughters. Homestar Runner (Monkulus's boyfriend), can come and visit.

The only problem is if he's still the man, and I think he still is, he will be guarding the group from any rovers and could prevent Maybelline from getting pregnant.

Larry

Well if Zaphod babysits on occasion, like we saw him do in the Whiskers in Season 3, then perhaps rovers can visit Maybelline while the rest of the group is out foraging.