I was reading over the Dec 2007 LH report and did not see their names. I'm just curious if they are not on there because the researchers believe they are not coming back?

I just checked the KMP site. The december LH isn't up yet. Assuming that it is up and their names are not on there, LSEEN means that they haven't been seen since that date.

Once they have been gone over one month they are reported LOST. If it is up and my computer is just off then check and see if their names are LOST

I'm sorry not LOST. They are just lost. My mistake.

I think Meerkat053 was referring to the December 2007 name list...not LH report...

Yeah I figured that out shortly after posting. But I can't type too much. I broke my arm two days ago.

thank you rattie, that is what I meant...My brain is on hiatus right now..lol..so let me try that again. If they aren't on the new Dec 2007 name list does that mean they are either dead or just gone and the researchers don't think they are coming back??

if they are not listed doesn't mean they are dead...it just means that they were absent with the researcher did a "head count" one day...and weren't seen anywhere on that day...Fluffernutter is with a splinter group of the Moomins, they are all listed as Emigrated...so with the others around him, he is probably doing fine right now....Maybe he will eventually become a dominant male...

Mitch could always still be found...I've heard of cases where some meerkats haven't been seen for up to a year or longer and then they just show up again...When it comes to missing meerkats who aren't verified as dead, I keep my hopes for them alive......Maybe Mitch is somewhere with Lola...

now come on now.... everyone loves fluffernutter and rightly so, but...... to think that he could become a dominant is rediculous. this isn't the "care bears", this is nature. a male that needs to fight for dominance needs claws. if fluffernutter fathers just one litter of pups it would be a minor miracle. it is human nature to want the best for him, with the odds stacked against him and all, but this isn't a "disney film". i hope he has a long happy life and perhaps become a father, but dominant male is a little unattainable for a male meerkat with a disadvantage such as fluff's.

Yo NDodo

Sorry but you are incorrect. There has been in the past a male meerkat born with no claws who became dominant in a meerkat family.

Meerkats fight more with their teeth than their claws and Fluffernutter's canines did come in, so he does have the right stuff, especially if he gains size and weight in this season of plenty in the Kalahari.

So if the past is any indication then he has as much of a shot as any male meerkat at attaining dominance.

Pronker

ok, i stand corrected. thank you very much for the info, pronker. fluffernutter does have a chance, and it would be a great story. last i heard though, the researchers said he wasn't as big as his littermates, and you have told us that there has been a dm without claws. so i have a related question.... how much does not having claws affect his ability to forage effectively? we always appreciate your first hand knowledge and insight, pronker.

[quote]if fluffernutter fathers just one litter of pups it would be a minor miracle.[/quote]
Something tells me with the the right meerkat lady he could be a daddy meerkat several times over.

Fluff and I go back a long time. His paws are extremely calloused which allows him to dig. He also goes to areas where other 'kats have dug and left. Then he finishes the search for food, successfully on most occasions. He is an expert at catching geckos; his favorite food. Fluff has always ben a winner in the food contests so I hear. So we know he can get what he wants

The most important element is his family; they have continued to answer his begging calls and willingly help to feed him.

If my memory is correct Douglas, brother of Jim Bob, is the other little fellow born without claws, but later developed them.

There is a picture of him on the new KMP gallery at this link, you can see his paws:

http://friends.kalahari-meerkats.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=958

Our Fluff can achieve whatever he wants; I just hope he stays safe and comes home to mama Grumpy.

I suppose given recent events, anything is possible. After a long dry spell, there now appears to be an abundance of pregnant meerkats. Perhaps somehwere out there Fluffernutter has already found the right meerkat lady.

With that in mind, I continue to hope that Fluffernutter will return to the research area if not the Moomins.

In my heart I've always felt that Mitch would, not only survive, but thrive. I always felt he was a "mini" Zaphod - chip off the old block. It would be absolutely horrid if he were gone.

I am having as much trouble accepting that Mitch "MAY" be gone as I did comming to grips with Flower's death. This cannot be possible!

i hope my bad boy r ok!!

the peculiar thing is..... it seems zarathustra was the "little zaphod" all along (although he may be youssarians son). he was the one destined to become a dm and meerkat manor never even thought he was worth mentioning for 3 years. i find that totally unbelievable. there probably hasn't been a show in 2 seasons that didn't mention "mitch" at least 3 times. i mean, obviously zara showed something. he had to be big or bold or probably both. mitch will probably be fine though. i'll be interested to find out how many of the other whisker males joining him on his bachelor party, er, i mean roving trip.

Zarathustra is Pooky. Lol.

Attila

really Attila?...on the rolecall for members on fkmp it doesn't say that...it has another meerkat listed as Pooky but I can't say who because of the small print...I know you've been over there and have talked to the researchers so I'm inclined to believe you...maybe its a typo on the rolecall

According to the book, Pookie was born in Flower's third litter. Zarathustra was in her fifth litter. Of course, that wouldn't stop MM from renaming Zara, as we all know.

I hope they keep his name as Zarathustra. It's a great name for a great kat who just so happens to be a DM.

Zarathustra is not Pooky. Pookie = Pooky.