Hi again. While you all were chatting away on this forum, I was in dreamland! Its now almost 8am in SA. Nightweaver, its a pleasure. We usually use that sight to look for good camping venues, and its loaded with all kind of information.

The roads in SA is very narrow (especially in the rural areas), and it happens that little animals like meerkats and mongooses suddenly appears from the grass, and makes a run for it across the road. They are usually very fast, and most times makes it across without being hit by a car. Othertimes, some are not so lucky.

In the Kalahari, you cant ask people to drive 20km/h or 30km/h. It will not be nice if it took hours to get from point A and point B. Towns and cities (except for Pretoria and Johannesburg) are widely spread (especially in the Kalahari), so it can be a hazard if they make the speeding limits lower than they are. The problem will never entirely go away, but we as drivers could try to be more vigilant and aware.

Greetings all, enjoy the rest of your day!
Spark

Im agree, but maybe they can do a little something, like fences near the way or tunnles for meerkats and other animals, those tunnles are not so perfect, i mean if you think at lions and other big animals in the kalahari.
How can they in a small tunnle under the way whitout got stuck?
But for meerkats, its a good idea, for other animals, not so...

~Trusty girl, DF Desert Kats~
__
What will happen to those loved meerkats?

I was reading some of the posts here regarding the tragic way our RD was killed. It is very sad to hear she was killed in this fashion, such a loss. However, to blame the driver is not right. I do agree some can be more careful when they drive and that goes for anyone anywhere. But sometimes things are not preventable. I read one post on here where they said the driver should be shot and I teared up. I teared because some years back I was on my way to work and was doing the normal speed limit of about 50 down a road when a beautiful black Persian cat ran out in front of my car, I slammed on my breaks but it was too late. The cat came out so fast and I had no time to react. I know I shouldn't have been shot for that. I cried terribly over this because I love animals not only that but I have a beautiful Himilayan and he is like my child. I stop for any animal I see, squirrels, possums, groundhogs, etc. I know some don't care but most don't set out to hurt these innocent animals.

RIP Rocket Dog, I will miss you.

I had told myself I would stay away from the spoilers board for this season, but for some reason felt the pull to come and look. I am so sad about this news, but again sure that I fair better when I know about these sad events in advance. Rocket Dog had just started her reign, but like others said, at least she had some time in the sun. And now she has gone to meet her mom, sisters, babies, etc. where they can play and forage without such worries.

RIP Rocket Dog

bye rocket dog we will all miss you angel
r.i.p rocket dog

i'm with luvalltheanimals on this. i myself (only once thankfully) killed one of God's creatures on the highway. sometimes they just run out in front of you. i also have narrowly missed several because i made an attempt not to hit them. i live in quite a "redneck" area of the US to put it mildly. animals are something to shoot for "sport". if they are in season, it is something to brag about at the redneck bar on friday night. if it is not in hunting season they keep their mouth shut. but it can happen.... sometimes an animal just runs out in front of a car. whether it is a cat or a rabbit or a meerkat, you would think that this particular animal should be too "smart" to do that, until you have been the unfortunate moterist that kills one and actually feels guilty about it. God bless all those on this forum, i know you are all like me.

November before last darkness was starting to settle in and I was driving about 30 as I know deer roam at this time and season and I "was" watching for deer. Well, "Bam", a big, beautiful doe ran out of the woods and hit my car,went sailing up into the air, and landed on the side of the road. Sometimes no matter how hard you try it just happens.

It's sooooooo hard to really believe she's gone. When I got the news of Flower I couldn't believe it was true... I went to my room and just cried and cried Now ROCKETDOG! Its sooo hard to realize the truth. I was soooo much looking forward to season 4 and seeing her for the whole seasona and for next season.... now that cant happen. We see her for half the season thens he's gone! Its just like a repeat of when Flower passed away. Season 4 might just be to hard on me.... I dont know if I can bare to watch it. Only time will tell if it gets better..... or worse.....

from what i've heard, filming was over when RD died. i think (and hope) they will just tell us that RD was tragically killed by a vehicle at the end of the last episode of season 4. for me, i am really looking forward to seeing her lead her group for the new season, and getting to know the youngsters better.

Oh, I agree, Nazareth. That would be much more of a fitting way for S4 to play out. I so loved Rocket Dog that I will do my best to enjoy every screne moment that she is shown. Knowing that this will be her final curtain call will be very hard to take, but at least my fears of her possibly being infected with tb by homestar Running can be put to rest. TBs slow, wasting away is just far, far to agonizing to think about. Now she is whole again, at home in Heaven with to many of OUR beloved. RIP, dear Rocket Dog!

Happy Mother's Day to our Flower and to all the kats (both sides of the bridge.) Happy Mother's Day to all of us and to all Moms around the world!

I read Mother's Day started (in England?) by mothers who were protesting a war.

bischonmom

You reminded me to call my mother.

I'm not sure if MM is going to mention RD's death at the end of the season. It depends on what "creative" ideas MM has for season 5. I can't wait to see RD. I mentioned a million times that she is my favorite (along with Zaphod). It's a shame she had only two surviving pups (juveniles now).

poco72

I guess poor RD could be infected with TB.

The people/persons who suggested digging tunnels/drains under or around the roads--that is a great idea that should be followed up on. Several meerkats have now been run over (and not just by passers-by) ... time to do something to reduce the chance it'll happen again. If a speed limit can't be abided, then it's on to plan B! And how about adding a couple of signs--"meerkat crossing"--to increase awareness?

ROCKET DOG has lived as much how many and Mozart.
It is very a pity to me it.

P.S. I am sorry for my English language.

Hello lexie_kat, it would be great if something could be done. It seems a lot of kat territories actually cross the roads. I have read that the Whiskers now has a road running through it...YIKES! There have been posts about a sanctuary. It would not completely resolve the problem for kats that were out of the sanctuary, but it would help. At least there would be no roads. Maybe a Plan C?
Hi Zaphod_forever! Yes, poor Rocket Dog and Mozart, they have a hard life. Your English is just fine. I understood exactly what you said! It is a pity.
Take care to both!

Waaaaa, that is sad news!

I guess this happens more than we'll ever know. They are so small and probably have no fear of vehicles. Still.....dang....

Penny

That is so true Bischonmom. I've had small animals run in front of me and I always break; but sometimes it doesn't help. My poor daughter hit the neighbor's dog 2 months ago. Absolutely devastated her. He was running free and came out of a ditch (we live waaaaay out in the country). She didn't see him until it was too late and hit him. We've always tried to be carefull because he loved chasing cars. We knew that and so always slowed way down. But he came out of nowhere on her. I don't think she stopped crying for 2 days. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, animals get hit. I dont think meerkats are any bigger than 9-12". That makes it hard to see them. Poor RocketDog.


[quote] Bischonmom: November before last darkness was starting to settle in and I was driving about 30 as I know deer roam at this time and season and I "was" watching for deer. Well, "Bam", a big, beautiful doe ran out of the woods and hit my car,went sailing up into the air, and landed on the side of the road. Sometimes no matter how hard you try it just happens.[/quote]

I'm kinda slow on finding out things about our (my) MEERKATS
Like now finding out 1 week before season 4 that Rocket Dog
is gone,It's like knowing who's gonna win the super bowl next Jan.
but it's not gonna be my TEAM,but that's just a game..The MEERKATS
are REAL ,not some minor league thing like a game no mater how (super)
the game is,,,What i want to know (and i might of missed it/them here),
is WHERE OR HOW (websights ,youtube vids, news letters ect.ect.) WHERE
I CAN FIND OUT INFO ABOUT THE KATS ***NOW*** IN THE OFFSEASON, YEAR ROUND
24/7 NOT JUST IN THE 13 PART SERIES, That just wet's my appetite for more.
It tears out your heart but i WANT to know *REAL TIME* and not be suprised
Like FLOWER (with hand on heart)MOZART(ditto)CARLOS(ditto)The list goes on..

Please if you know FACTUAL *real time* info LET *ME* KNOW, PLEASE
If season 4 is already filmed ,For people that just watches the SERIES
will have no idea until NEXT YEAR

I WANT TO KNOW NOW. and

P.S. Please bring back SEAN, His voice help'ed ease the pain

Thanks, whoopikillednextgen (hope not the FLOWER TRIBUTE Movie
thats where we needed Sean's voice)

What ever happened to the senior citizen who posted that she cannot afford cable and can only watch MM when its streamed. Pronker generously left her a FKP membership, as she did me. Did this lady ever take it? Has she ever posted again? Does anyone know what happened to her? Strange how she only posted once, from her heart, and then we never heard from her again?

bischonmom

I don't think this lady posted again.


Anything can happen, anywhere. Some years ago, when we started walking our big German Shepherd (as an adult) on a leash, he kept dragging us behind him, even my father. He ran in front of cars, as well. He was not hit, because the drivers stopped. I wouldn't consider the drivers responsible, if anything happened. That was in a suburb of a big city. After that he had to be confined to our fenced garden. The poor boy passed away when he was almost ten.

This lady should join us in the burrow top when we sun and groom each other and have some fun. If you are there lady (I think lady) come join us and I think a membership may have been generously waiting for you, as it was me. We await you at the borrow entrance - come join the mob.

bischonmom that was pikamom. I just searched her "Dear Peeps" I never forgot it or her, so sweet. ♥♥♥

http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2381948938/m/4391968169?r=5051989369#5051989369

*sigh* *wipes away tears*

This show has given me such joy and I have felt such love for these, tiny wonderful animals who I never would have known about had it not been for Animal Planet. But it also causes me to break out in hysterical sobs (too often unfortunately) when such a precious life is taken away. After the literal loss of Shakespeare and Tosca and seeing the lifeless bodies of Flower and Mozart and the little pups being snatched up by Goshawks I thought I could handle anything that came our way through the show. This is so tragic and terribly saddening. I pray Rocket Dog's death was fast and painless. Rest in peace angel. Run free with your family that is already in Heaven.


Pronker, thank you for sharing with us this tragic news. I'm sure it must have been hard. Out of curiosity though in your original post you mentioned something about "LH" I was wondering what that is?

Allison,

LH stands for Life History. It is a monthly report that is published free on Friends of the Kalahari Meerkats website. There is a more detailed LH available to members of the FKMP. You can learn a lot by the free version, though.

OH! this is really sad news.

I was so looking forward to seeing her, and hoping she had succeeded as dominant.
she was such a little sweetheart.

Sleep well little Rocket Dog..you were special.

ziggy777

Rocket Dog is going to be on MM all of season 4, as the DF of the Whiskers. She passed away after filming ended. She was already achieving some success as a dominant when she died.

Just read this today. Bless her heart. I loved little Rocket Dog. I also just found out that it was she who took in Axel, not Flower (another that I sorely miss).

R.I.P. little Dog...