What I think all of us appreciate about Meerkat Manor is that we know this is the true life story of what is happening to this family of meerkats that we've come to love and adore. It's not like watching "The Bachelor" where producers have told the person most of the people he's supposed to choose. What we see is truly what is happening... it's unscripted, and therefore allows us to become so attached to them. We feel their joy, their sorrow, their daily struggle to survive the elements, and their enemies.

The compassion that we all have for animals makes it easy for us to say that someone should have stepped in and saved Flower, or at least put her out of her misery. But we are not watching meerkats at a zoo in the U.S. We are watching nature run it's course. It's why it's so hard for me to watch any nature program, because for it to be real, you can't interfere.

Flower embodied the best in all of us. A firm but loving hand... she did what she had to for the sake and survival of her family. I think what hit me hardest was the compassion she showed for little Axel was followed by her death. We'd like to think that act of compassiona shoudl have exonerated her from an untimely death, but life doesn't always have a happy ending.

I would be lying if I said that Flower was my 'favorite' meerkat before last night. I still wouldn't say she's my favorite now, but I had a deep respect for her. She was a leader, a mother, a loving companion for Zaphod. She earned all of our respect and it is still hard to accept that she is gone. Honor her by remembering her spirit.

We'll miss you Flower. God bless you and may He rest your soul and look after your family in your absence.

Very well written. I still cry over some things when I think about my precious meerkats. This was consolling. Thanks!!

My heart has always gone out to poor little Mozart, who seems to face one absurdly challenging situation after another, so she's pretty much been my favorite.

Flower has always stood for such strength, even when evicting Mozart, and I always understood that. So at least this mother and daughter are now together again, in their burrow with room for all.

My niece knows me as Auntie Meerkat
(aka: Diane, in Massachusetts, USA)