The Life History report for February has just been posted; as always, there are sad things, but the best thing is the number of pups: There are sixty known pups, and more to emerge! There have never been more pups during the course of the project, and we all hope that many of them make it to adulthood, to see the population grow again. I am sure that you'll also like the new Van Helsing group...
I'd like to apologise for the last report, where we made a mistake with Murray Whiskers in the LH chart. Murray was euthanised for TB at the end of the January, and this didn't make it to the chart. There is a similarly sad event in February: Homestar Runner was also lost to TB. Based on the researchers' experience, TB has, like with infected humans, less devastating effects when an individual is properly nourished and otherwise healthy; we all hope that the number of TB incidents goes down soon, now that foraging is so excellent. The researchers and us are working on a TB section for the FKMP website, so we hope we can present more information soon.
But now go and enjoy the entries in the "No of Pups at end of month" column of the report! Evi
Thanks for the update on Homestar Runner, sad as it is, it is still better than having him suffer to sure death.
Zarathustra DEAD???? How did this happen? Who is the DM of Commandos now? Was he killed in a dominance fight? I can't believe this horrible news!! And Zorilla lost her litter (probably Zara's).
There certainly are pups EVERYWHERE< Sadly, still no news of my favorite LSeen meerkats. Sooner or later they just HAVE to show up or else get the researchers to expand their search. Good-bye dear Zara and HR.
i was shocked to see *vwm067. ouch! and homestar too. there are alot of pups and 5 whiskers females leading their own groups now! and all 5 groups have at least 10 members (including pups), so if they can successfully raise most of their pups, all the groups should be off to good starts. baker is dm of commandos now, and their numbers have really taken a hit recently.
no dreaded symbols next to vvm032, he's old, so no news is good news. he's still dm of aztecs. also, do u guys think it is possible fluffernutter is in the nutters, or just coincidence on the names?
I also wondered what no word on Zaphod meant, then I remembered he likes to do his work in the world covertly, so I am sure he is fine!
So many new pups...the circle of life continuing after a rough year last year. It especially nice to see two Gattica ladykats heading up their own groups and keeping the bloodlines going.
I just hope RocketDog can get a non-natal DM and start cranking out the pups like Flower did! Perhaps we could refer her to a dating service. I would think any former centerfold type lady would have the guys beating down the doors to get to her!
Attila! The DM of the Commandos is Attila! Where is Atillahon and Attila the Honeypie to see this??
Poor Zara! What happened to him? Did Attila kill him in his bid for dominance? (this is just purely my wondering about it, no info w/r). I did expect Attila and Achilles to challenge Zara, this is why Zara was trying to keep them out.
Oh sweet little Homestar Runner! How sad I am over this loss! Homeless after the loss of the Young Ones, DM of the Aztec for a week or so, hunging around the Whiskers trying to find a home. Finally you found a spot, sweet little one, your death is listed under the Whiskers group (albeit in parenthesis). Thank you Evi for letting us know in this way. It's so hard not to know. Please let us know too of his brother Philipe if you can
Zaphod is fine. He is old but experienced. I worry about the spreading of TB though. Poor Homestar Runner. His group disintegrated, and he tried to join the Whiskers and the Aztecs so may times (even last month). I thought that he could become the permanent DM of either group. What about Philippe? I'm sure he has TB as well. And the founders of the Whiskers were from the Young Ones and the Lazuli.... It's nice to see some Gattaca females out there, after the group was lost. As for RocketDog, natal males can be a hindrance for any potential mates. Zara is dead! What a shock. We were so proud of him of becoming the DM of the Commandos (like a lot of his sisters are DFs of their groups). Was it a fight for dominance? We would like to know.
Philippe is alive! Oh thank you so much for sharing the great news that Philippe is still OK. And I'm so glad to also know that he's got company and he's not completely alone now that he lost his brother!
Poor Zara predated! Oh poor little Zara!
The intense dominance bid I'm assuming went down between Baker and his brother Miles? To be honest I'm not really sure who is Attila and who is Achilles.
I was heartbroken over Zara's death. He is the reason that I bought a Commandos package at FKMP. He was a toughy and a born DM. He was the one to assume dominance back when he was a Whisker any time Zaphod was away roving. Good-bye sweet Zara!
Glad Commandos have another whisker DM in Baker. He is going to be a good one, that's for sure.
And HR, what can we say. He and his brother really had some kind of an operation! It's too bad he wasn't able to land a long term gig as DM. Philippe, take care of yourself out there!
Its scary to think that if Homestar was infected with TB-he was around the Whiskers and Aztecs as late as last month. Stay safe little meerkats. RIP Homestar Runner.
I always knew Attila had DM potential. I can still see him in season 2 chasing rover Grog away from the babysitting burrow. You're right Sunshine1, someone has to let Attilahon and Attila the Honeypie know the good news about their namesake.
New group Nutters as 7 pups, WOW! And Baobab and Kung Fu have 6 each! We're all going to have a lot of new names to learn in the coming months
New pups always bring happiness and good news. Attila as DM, but at what cost? Our Zara was predated. The meerkat world goes on. Just keep them all safe, Zaphod, Fluffernutter where ever they may be.
Yes it is true about TB diminishing in good times, but once established beyond a point of no return, they will still be dying, too many were exposed. Murry is gone. He had such a sweet little face....and HR, they will be truly missed.
As re RD as a centerfold darling, rather than a dating service ZTM maybe she should work on her personality!
ztm and ccatz -- i don't think RD needs a dating service or personality work... i think it's more likely that machu pichu needs to go find a female who /isn't/ his sister to mate guard. : /
Poor Zarathustra and Homestar Runner. They will be missed.
Love NazarethDodo's comment about the similarity between Fluffernutter's name and the group name Nutters. I suppose that anything is possible.
Glad to see that Ella and Wiley Kat are back at the Whiskers. Ella's litter helped to boost the Whisker's count to 16. Given the recent trend, hope she does not decide to take her pups and form her own group.
I am pulling for Aretha and Grumpy who are once again pregnant. Poor Blondie, she could really use a litter of pups.
Where do you guys see that Zarathustra has passed? I am glad to see another meerkat group emerging, and happy to know that there are a number of pups born last month. I am also very saddened by the loss of Homestar Runner, I will miss you buddy. If Zara is dead, then I wanted to say "Good-bye" to him. RIP my friend.
Well the Aztecs are unfortunately had three emigrate: Flo, Billy, and Bananas. But Flo is the dominate of of Van Helsing so her future is pretty bright. Does anyone know where Billy and Bananas are?
In the FKMP site, in the February Life History, under the Van Helsing group it appears that Flo, Billy, Bananas (VWF090, VWF093, VWF097) and their pups immigrated to the group. There are a couple of males as well.
Philmeerkat
Try the http://friends.kalahari-meerkats.com site. It is up right now. Then go to the "Life History" in the left side of the page, and the "Naming" in the right side (for the names and numbers of meerkats, in order to undersand the report). You will see that Zarathustra Whiskers' number is VWM067, and in the February Life History report under the Commandos group, in the fifth column, there is an asterisk (which means dead) and his number. Meerkat natal group numbers remain the same when the kats emigrate to another group, or form their own group.
Sadly, still no news of my favorite LSeen meerkats. Sooner or later they just HAVE to show up or else get the researchers to expand their search. Good-bye dear Zara and HR.