I know it's been done a million times, but after reading so many of your heartfelt comments regarding Flower, I felt I should post my own. I'm sorry if I spend a lot of time repeating what others have said, but I won't feel right until I get it off my chest.

Flower was not the result of slick editing. She was not the brainchild of television or advertising executives. While she was not the only strong matriarch in the Meerkat world, Flower really was a remarkable creature. To call her the Queen of the Kalahari is not a stretch, as in our little slice of the Desert, Flower really did rule all.

Her leadership brought prosperity to the Whiskers while others floundered, and her decisions resonated throughout the Manor, affecting both of her neighboring gangs.

I do not know if the events surrounding her death were dramatized for television, but don't let the small details detract from what she was. A gang of nearly 50 Meerkats is a tremendous accomplishment, and it would not have been possible without Flower.

It became apparent that gangs the size of the Whiskers are not common, and perhaps we should take that also to mean leaders the caliber of Flower are equally as rare.

I wish they had not shown her suffering. I understand her death was painful, and probably much slower than we would like to believe, but given the presentation of this series, I felt seeing Flower in her final throws were unnecessary. The final shot of her laying dead would have sufficed.

I miss her. I really do. She was entertaining, and her struggles--though a touch more Darwinian--mirrored our own. It is bittersweet to think that my first glimpse of Meerkat life featured such a remarkable leader, and yet she passed so early on. Flower was the perfect poster-child, so to speak, for her species, and thanks to her, Meerkats have the exposure that will help keep them off the endangered species list. It is unfortunate that she won't be around to see what her good work has wrought.

I miss you, Flower. Be well in your new life.

joeywhiskers,
Very well said and I agree with what you have typed here.
It has been my sincere hope that her death has some meaning. Thank you for pointing out that she was the perfect poster-child for her species. Your right.
She was wonderful in so many ways, as are all the kats. I miss her too.

Really, really excellent. Thank you.

Hi joeywhiskers:

Very nice letter. Very nice. It's wonderful to see someone "not" complain about what the producers or show executives do or don't do for the meerkats. The fact is, not only have the Whiskers grown to over 50, (I understand that this is the largest tribe in meerkat history), but because of the research being done, the meerkats have their own doctors in place and that is one reason why the tribes are growing and will continue to grow. Also having a leader like Flower is the main reason why the Whiskers grew and prospered. I don't like seeing the suffering part either, but it's a fact of animal life. I think we are just having a hard time digesting so much death at one time.
Thanks again for the letter.
R.I.P. FLOWER

Thank you Joeywhiskers. You said it all.

I have been on this site for about 6 weeks now and I have read just about everything I thought could be said about Flower. But joeywhiskers, once again, I think you said it best. It was beautiful. I do not think that we will EVER forget our Flower. I know I won't. She was amazing!

Rest In Peace Little One

Agreed. Thank you for your words, joeywhiskers!

We love and miss you Flower....

joeywhiskers, I agree totally with your thoughts, the only thing I could possibly add is a saying of my grandpa's..."What will be will be". We can't go back and change what happened or how it was portrayed on MM, we have to accept it and move on as Rocket Dog and the Whiskers family have done.

What an eloquently well-thought-out commentary Joeywhiskers! Thank you for sharing your feelings with us all.

I keep finding that those of us who are here in the burrow together out of love, are so openminded, beacause we're so openhearted.

Thank you for remembering Flower with us all.

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

that was great it helps me soooo much to see others on here express how i feel but can not put into words thank you