Good morning to the 3 amigos. Using the last picture of the 3 snuggled in a row, which name will belong to which boy? I'm sure they're only bachelors through circumstances, not choice.

Much joy to the Three Amigos with their new names. Yes would be nice to see companions for them, but that is a complicated and possibly much dangerous goal. Must be done with care.

I think we must let them decide their names, after all they have been without a name for so long that they ought to help in choosing one.

YEAH, they finally have names!!!!!! I will be there for the ceremony! See everyone then!

Love the names. They do seem to fit. I guess we'll find out who is who on Saturday and let everyone else know.

So you then!

I'm so glad our three amigos have names finally. I wish I could join you all on Sat. take lots of pictures. ECMS you did an outstanding job and I can't wait to join you on your next project.

"Has anyone from Mass. ever visited the zoo in attleborough that has meerkats. I thin k, it is the Capron zoo. I checked and it closes in October."

Shocat

I am planning on going to the Capron Park Zoo on Saturday for the dedication. I have never been there but i called and was told the exhibit is very nice. Hope to see you there!

I as well as some others are planning on going to the Capron Park Zoo on Saturday to see their meerkats. Is there a specific time for the meeting there?

Hivolt65

I'm so happy! I thought I might be the only one. They said we sould be there for 2:30 because that's the time they'll be doing it on the East Coast. I plan on spending the day there. Maybe we can meet @ 2:00 pm so we can introduce ourselves? And do you think we should do something special?

Hmmmm, I guess we'll have to dye mark them so we can tell who's who !

I sure if we were able to go and see them all the time we would see the differences, but you know that's not a bad idea! kidding of course, but I bet queenflower can tell them apart. Just reading manorfan's descriptions I can see them and of course Cheryl. Like 1212 said we can use the pix as a guide.

This is just a last minute reminder about the 9/29 MultiZoo Meerkat Meetup to ensure we're all on the same page. Although the Staten Island Zoo dedication will occur at 2:30 EDT, those visiting other zoos can of course set their own meetup times. This is a grass roots event, so all you need to do to participate is to visit any meerkats on Saturday. Nothing more formal than that. Also, click here for details if you'd like to participate in the voluntary sharing of pictures & videos from our local zoos over cell phones. The numbers have been distributed, but if you hurry and email the ECMS at Cheryl.Gaines@fcps.edu , we'd love to include you. It looks like a Capron Park Zoo meetup is coming together as a last minute participant, so I just thought these reminders may assist you with clarification.

This is just an addendum to say that I've now sent separate photo & video test-texts to the cell phone representatives for each of this Saturday's zoo-meetup groups. Let me know if the photo or video doesn't display properly for any of you. If successful, you now have a MM ad photo of a cute little meerkat, and an MP3 of meerkat calls as the first text. The second text is a video I shot of the LA Zoo's meerkat webpage.

Is anyone else going to be meeting at the Birmingham Zoo?

Yo

Well done everyone. True cooperative behavior in honor of our three gentlekats.

Cheryl, I'm so glad for you that da beaner made it.

Please take some pictures of the plaque for the folks who can't be there in body but will so be there in mind and spirit.

Now we just have to get through tomorrow night, sigh...

Pronker

I am all for that reilly and lola, that would be great. I thought I was the only one going there too. I haven't been there before but am certainly looking forward to it. We will have to figure out how to ID each other etc.

Hi! Just back to the main burrow after a long week in Boston. So glad to see the little boys finally have names!

Look forward to seeing everyone in Staten Island on Saturday.

Runs (Flies, Drives, Works, Flies, Drives, Flies...)

Hivolt65 - I'll be easy to spot because I'll be bringing my neices along with me. And they're 3 and 5. And we should meet up at the meerkat display. How about you? Anyone else?

I have put the invite out to a bunch of my friends but as of this morning I am not sure how many will be attending. I know my wife and I are planning to be there a little after noontime. As for what we will be wearing, more than likely I will have something on that has the FEDEX logo on it as I work for FEDEX.

If there is anybody in the Washington DC area who would like to drop by the National Zoo I will be there at 10:00 AM. Sorry I can't make the meet-up time for the Staten Island Zoo and our Three Amigos, but I need to see our family and tell them about Flower and our sweet boys.

Queenflower, Gene, manorfan & runs262 looking forward to seeing you all again. I will be wearing my Flower Power shirt...oh no, can't find it. Gotta go forage for it. To Cheryl & everyone else who are mobbing together @ various Zoo's throughout the country, have fun @ your bolt hole w/your fuzzies as we all celebrate this monumentous event.

hivolt

I wont be there until @ 12:30. It's almost a 2 hour drive from my house. Hope to see you there. Either way, it's a wonderful way to remember Flower and all our other favorites!

hi everyone! i'm looking forward to tomorrows visit with the kats. i'll be at the peoria ill. zoo at about 1:30. still waiting to confirm time with staff. we all have each others numbers to keep in touch throughout the events tomorrow. if you are not on the list, just go to east coast meerkat society and talk to the man gene. he'll fix ya right up. hugs for all tonight.

For those meerkat-meetup groups who haven't sent Cheryl their numbers at the address above, this is voluntary, so that's okay. However, if the only reason you didn't act on this is because your cell doesn't handle photos & videos, don't let that stop you. Several members are also having photo incompatibilities, so we'll also speak by voice to wish each other well over tonight's tragedies and tomorrow's festivities.

Just make sure we get the pictures please.

I think it is about an hour and 45 from here reillyandlola. I am coming from southern NH here. Not sure what time we will get out of here but should have no problems being there around 1 or so. This will be great to take part in the nationwide meetup, and to honor this momentous occasion.

hivolt - I will se you there.

I am looking forward to it.

Sadly, I won't be able to make it to SI zoo but i'll be there in spirit i guess (i.e. I won't be able to stop thinking about t ;p )

Give the three amigos my regards?

As far as I know I will be the only ECMS member at the Tampa Zoo but I think that I have convinced my mother to come along as we found out that we can rent a power wheel chair for her. BTW, she is recovering nicely. I shall wear my East Coast Meerkat Society shirt that I wore to our Staten Island meet-up so if anyone is lurking on the boards from the Florida area, please feel free to join us.

I am not looking forward to the episode tonight and know that I will cry buckets but it will, I hope, be the darkness before the light of the festivities of tomorrow with all ECMS members in attendance, in body or in spirit. Hopefully lots of pictures will be posted. Once again, as of this posting, we will have ECMS representatives in the following cities. Hail, Queen of the Kalahari!
Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Diego( birthplace of the Three Amigos)
Omaha
Phoenix
Fort Worth
Birmingham,AL
Columbia, SC
Philadelphia
Chicago
Peoria, IL
St. Louis
Massachusetts (sorry, don't know the city)
Washington, D.C. (home of the 1st Meet-up)
Tampa
Staten Island
I can think of no better way to honour our Queen of the Kalahari than this wonderful grassroots gathering. Please drive safely to your zoo of choice. MEERKATS RULE!!!

I'm sorry, there's not a meetup in South Carolina, unless someone shows up solo. No one contacted me. I will be with you all in spirit as I drudge away in the book burrow. Give Jellybean, Rupert and Sebastian an air kiss from me. And please, as Pronker asked, get a good picture of the plaque.

I cannot be in Staten Island or Mass but will be there in spirit. Please share all pictures of the guys and plaque. I hope to be able to visit the Capron Zoo in Mass in October. Let me know what you think of the zoo in Mass when you go.

Thanks.

The meet up in Mass will be at the Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro for those that can attend.

Hello all Meerkat Manor fans, especially those who are fans of Flowers.

The day we all dreaded has come. Nature has claimed the life of our heroine. Flower was tough, tenacious and only 12 inches tall and she ruled with an iron paw! But not even Flower's strength and will could save her from the venomous bite of the cape cobra.

But Flower died protecting what meant most to her. Her family! She did not die in vain!

In her memory I have put together a 35 page book, thanks to many fellow Flower fans who have donated their pictures, photos and drawings. We are so lucky to have so many talented members here and the most talented pups you could ever hope to find!

If you are interested in seeing this book or ordering one, you can go to the East Coast Meerkat Society's website at http://meerkatsrule.org where the book and ordering information is posted.

Since this book was done out of love and respect for Flower by and for her many fans, it will be sold at cost and no profit will be made from it. But you will receive a 35% discount when ordering through the ECMS.

I would like to personally thank all those who have contributed to this book whether it be by donating to it or by helping with the endless proof reading!

And a special thank you to Animal Planet for supporting this project and donating pictures of Flower as well.

Flower was a brave meerkat leader who was often misunderstood for doing what she had to do for the survival of her family! She will be missed terribly and the Whiskers will never be the same!

But life on the Kalahari is harsh and the Whiskers will go on as they must. We will just have to wait and see what the future holds for Zaphod and if Rocket Dog can fill her mother's paw prints.

More tears will be shed and more joyous victories will be celebrated. But for me, things will never be the same without the Queen of the Kalahari leading the way!

If you have any questions, you can contact me at valerie@meerkatsrule.org.

** Pups under 18 who are interested in the book should email me please, as there is additional information we have for you.

Rest In Peace Flower!

Thank you,
ShakespeareForever

I don't have a cam in my cell phone but will take pictures of the meerkats at the Capron Park Zoo with my digital camera. If someone from ECMS will tell me how to load them to their site I will gladly post them for all to see after the meet up.

Hivolt65 that would be great. I so wanted to go today but just could not make it happen. Capron Zoo is about two hours from Conn. Have a great time.

TYVM shocat22, after I get the pics I will make them available to all that are interested. Either post them on a site or email to those that want them.

It is almost time. Please post here so we can see. thank you.

p

I could not get on the chat last night. Where can I find the print of what happened on the chat??? Please help if you can. Thanks.

Well, I just got back from the Birmingham Zoo. My three little Dixie Kats were really active today (it's funny how even in a totally safe captive environment one of them always seems to be standing watch). Wish I had some pictures; however, I don't own a digital camera.

I handed out some of my ECMS "business cards", which includes the website address, to some of the zoo patrons - maybe we'll get a new member or two out of it.

Hope all went well at the SI Zoo - really looking forward to seeing the pics.

I read the transcript will be available early next week. Maybe it will be sooner rather than later.

Our meerkats at the National Zoo, Washington DC are just as sweet and adorable as the first time I saw them, the first ECMS meet-up in Dec 2006 and the last time, over the Labor Day
weekend, when I met up with Atillahon and his family.

I had left earlier than anticipated and when I got there a sign greeted me...*Just For You* open early...of course that was much earlier 8:30 AM, but I considered it a good omen.

They were in the primary enclosure and our sentinel was at his post. Uncle Youssy was on his rock, legs crossed a little bit. The May pups were running around like crazy, stopping every now and then to eye me. I think they thought my springy curls were mealworms. All of the meerkats were having a great meerkat time in their tunnel system, but the weird thing is I have never seen them in the secondary enclosure with the gigantic pseudo termite mound. I think they just like to play in the tunnels connecting the two sites.

There were plenty of folks and children screeching "meerkats, like on Meerkat Manor! Look he is standing up! They are so tiny! Aren't they pretty! Oh look at the cute one up there looking for the bird of prey! I spoke with a couple of the adults, but while they watched Meerkat Manor none had seen our Flower's last episode. That made me sad, but also proud to love our Flower and her Whiskers so very much. I was the lone ECMS member for the morning.

I visited with the evicted female and her *pup* in their enclosure. It was sad, as always, to see just the two of them, but at least they are safe.

Mom seemed a little nervous, running back and forth, so, not being bashful, I ambushed a keeper. I asked what were their plans for the two sweet ones. She replied they would be isolated like this for as long as they had them. I asked if they had thought of them joining another mob at another zoo and she replied it was unlikely. I left it at that. The keeper volunteered they would move another meerkat(s) in with the two if there were anymore difficulties in the main mob.

I pointed out how jumpy Mom seemed to be. She said I can fix that. She disappeared and reappeared at the back of the enclosure with a long white tube full of dry leaves, or so it looked to me, mealworms and another little insect. Oh boy the fun began. They both jumped on the tube and dug into the holes in the tube and mealworms and stuff were flying! They would dig in the sand for the worms then attack the tube again. They seemed happy, Mom more relaxed, and with their tummys full I went back to the main mob.

The sentry was still on guard, the pups were yawning and I was a little happier than when I first arrived. I whispered a little thought for Flower, gave them greetings from Gene & Cheryl and left. I had spent almost an hour and a half with our DC meerkat family. I wondered if they had names. You know I do not know. They are marked so perhaps the keepers have named them. I will have to ask the next time I go.

It was bittersweet being there. I thought of Flower and her Whiskers, all of our Kalahari meerkats who are no longer with us. I am not embarrassed to say more than a single tear fell.

I am now waiting to hear of the Great meet-ups aound the country and of course at the Staten Island Zoo with Jelly Bean, Rupert and Sebastien and the dedication of the plaque in Flower's honor. It is beautiful. The pictures can't come too soon.

hi everybody. just got back from the peoria zoo. was thrilled to see 4 scampering kats there. their names are eenie, tic, tac, and toe. got alot of video and stills. will send to ECMS and anybody that don't mind hearing my rambling. the zoo did not cooperate like they said they would. no picture of flower, no sign, and no zookeeper there like she said she would be. the enclosure is about 12 by about 20 feet. no burrows. just a small hollow log. and only enough sand to barely cover the floor. they will not allow more sand. the desk clerk said that they have plenty and they move the sand around and make hills of their own. was really sad. but i was really excited just to see the kats.

quote:

Originally posted by korkiemama:
the zoo did not cooperate like they said they would. no picture of flower, no sign, and no zookeeper there like she said she would be. the enclosure is about 12 by about 20 feet. no burrows. just a small hollow log. and only enough sand to barely cover the floor. they will not allow more sand. the desk clerk said that they have plenty and they move the sand around and make hills of their own. was really sad. but i was really excited just to see the kats.

Ugh! how terrible. Meerkats need heaps of sand to dig and play in! and a bigger area than that! Might as well stuff the poor Kats in a cardboard box!

Some Zoos aren't on the level at all. You should see the Bear Mountain Zoo here. little caged areas with nothing but concrete to walk on and maybe a log or little carpet like thing.

The Red Fox there looks terribly sad

Hi! I went by the Birmingham Zoo earlier this week (as a way to prepare for Flower's passing)and finally got to see the meerkat exhibit. There was only one little guy there (as far as I could see)when I went by and like so many of you all I wished there was something I could do for him or her. They were certainly precious. I took some pictures with my camera and would love to post one. Is there a way to do that on this forum?

Thanks to all!

Well we had a great time at the Los Angeles Zoo, I met up with WestCoastMeerkat, and his DF, as well as Jensmeerkat...the two little ones in the enclosure were quite cute...one on sentry duty often. Was amazed at the number of people who didn't know what they were, mispronounced their species (some said "oh look Prairie Dogs)...had a hard time not pretended I worked at the zoo, and start giving a lecture. The second sweetie sat in a big black plastic bowl under a heat lamp (it was in the low 80's), sunning herself...she looked so Calif relaxed that she was just missing the martini!!! Jens and westcoast took some great pictures...he was good with the techn stuff like I knew he would be...kept calling Cheryl and Gene, and Queenflower...I spoke to Korkiemama, and gee I forget who else...sorry...looking forward to seeing everyone's pics...A lovely experience!

Does anyone have Piccies from the Meerkat gatherings?

I so wanna see them. I missed out on going to SI zoo

I'm sure pics will be coming RED Fox...it will just take the techno ones (wcm) to sort it all out...keep an eye on this thread, and the west coast society thread...

Last night was an incredibly painful and emotional night for me. So much so that my emotions are still too raw for me to post anything about my beloved Flower online. Right now I am keeping my feelings tucked away in the depths of my heart. With that, I confess that my first thought this morning was "how am I going to drag myself to the Staten Island Zoo and face all of those people?" I didn't feel like socializing. I just wanted to crawl under the covers and cry for Flower. But I went to the Staten Island Zoo, albeit with a heavy heart. I was the first one there at 11:30 am and found our beloved Three Amigos (Jellybean, Sebastian and Rupert) scurrying around in the sand, climbing the termite mounds, tunneling through burrows and eating crickets. They were so happy! Then I started to cry. All alone in front of that beautiful new enclosure I wept. But my tears were tears of joy. I was celebrating Flower's life!

Last year Flower inspired me to see meerkats up close and personal. Since a flight to South Africa wasn't going to happen just yet, I made my way to the nearest zoo to see some precious meerkats. It was not pretty. As most of you know, the three amigos were living in terrible conditions. They were in a dark, dingy, small enclosure with no sand, no tunnels, no toys - just a cold cement floor. I wept and vowed in my heart to do something about it. And with that alarm call the mob war danced and we raised the money and made a plan to better the lives of our three amigos . Little by little improvements have been made not only to their environment but to their diet and their sanity. I am pleased to say that we have greatly supplemented the amount of "bugs" in their diet and provided them with many more enrichment activities. The end result - the three amigos looked happier and healthier than ever today. Flower would be proud!

I was so happy to see many of my fellow mob members again - Gene, Pinkbuni, Manorfan and her DM, Runs' fiance and mom (we missed you Runs!!), Highway and his family. We all comforted each other about Flower's death and celebrated what an incredible ladykat she was. We also marveled over how great the enclosure looked and how happy the three amigos looked now. At one point the keeper came in and started giving them some live crickets. One of the three amigos (the DM) climbed into the container of crickets that the keeper had (I have a picture of this that I will post). Then they put some more crickets in bags that the guys had to work to get open. It was great. Lots of hip slamming, chasing of crickets and crunchy chewing. What a delight.

At 2:30 pm the enclosure was dedicated to Flower Whiskers and the plaque was unveiled. It is truly beautiful. I will post a picture of it shortly.

All in all, this was a day of great joy mixed with sadness. Sadness over the loss of the most beautiful and extraordinary meerkat to ever walk the sands of the Kalahari and joy that her life could cause us to accomplish something so wonderful as to better the lives of three little male meerkats tucked away on Staten Island. My sweet Flower, I know you were looking down on us today with a smile of contentment on your face and in your heart. Rest in peace by dearly beloved.

Queenflower

I was the lone representative at the Fort Worth zoo. It is a pretty little enclosure but it is little. There is plenty of dirt and there were holes everywhere that they had dug. Also there were a lot of plants just high enough to obscure some great pictures. One thing that distressed me was the count of Meerkats, when I was there in December there were 5 and now there are 3. The people at the zoo could not tell me what happened to the other 2, I am hoping they were sent to another location.

I have a lot of pictures, some good some not so good. My biggest problem is that I am not much taller than the glass viewing area so trying to get good pictures means pointing the camera and hoping it gets the right place. With the video camera I had a little better luck but still it was hard to get a good angle on some shots.

I spent a lot of time in my educator mode. Being this is TExas a lot of people wanted to think they were funny looking Prairie dogs (truth) I had to explain what and who they were to many.

I also had to deal with one very big IDIOT who decided to feed the little guys a handful of greasy potato chips. I pointed out that he could clog his arteries if he wanted but the meerkats would rather have meat. He said he would like a T-bone and I told him to go get one and leave the meerkats alone. Unfortunatly one of them found enough of those chips and they didn't seem to agree with him. I was able to flag down someone from the zoo and tell them so they got the rest of the chips out and I hope they are going to monitor the one sick looking meerkat tonight.

Every time I see these guys I am again amazed at how small they really are. They seem so much bigger, I suspect it is because they have such big attitudes.

I will post the pictures on my photo page tonight or in the morning, my daughter came by and I was interupted.

As Cheryl would say "Meerkats Rule"