As everyone (who reads this) knows Flower adpoted Axel minutes/hours before tragic and untimly death back at the place she called her home. I has a strong feeling that both Flower and Mitch did not kill little Axel, not just because he was defenceless and weak, but more so because, Flower had a deeper feeling in side her, as Mitch might have had to, and Flower may have known, for the sake of her family, they might need an unrelated male! Axel is and more likly than not, the only unrelated male in the group, and i strongly belive, that when Axel is fully grown, he will accept his new Duties as leader, unless of course RocketDog already has a partner, but as of right now, she doesn't and it seems she will have to wait for Axel.

I had a little different theory than that.

When Flower left the group she left her precious newborn pups in the hands of Rocket Dog and Mitch. When she came back, she learned both of them were dead. One an act of nature and the other an act of desertion by her family.

Mitch was the only member of her family to try and look after Squiggy. He ultimately was the one who abandoned him out in the desert to fend for himself and to ultimately die, as he was incapable of fending for himself.

Then he find another abandoned pup and he brings that pup to Flower. I don't think he would have done that if not for Squiggy and the guilt he must feel for having abandoned him to die.

I think the same goes for Flower. It was almost both were trying to rewrite the wrong that had been done to Squiggy with this abadoned pup.

FlowersMeerkat, I think you're right. My own experience with my dogs is that shortly before my Dachsie died in 1990, I met a friend's new dog and really liked the cute guy who was a Poodle/Schnauser mix; then when my Dachsie died, my friend asked me to take the little guy because they couldn't have him where they were! Altho I wasn't ready, I did take him, and he lived 15 more years with me. And when he was in his last year two years ago, I kept talking about getting another Dachsie, and after he died, a coworker asked me to rescue a Dachshund who had lost its Mum; again, I did! We had her for awhile before she died suddenly of HGE. Then a year later I told my Husband I was missing the pitter-patter of little feet, so we adopted twin Dachsies who will be two on Valentines Day - Bella & Valentina! So I believe in it being more than coincidence or luck! I'll be anxiously following Axel to see how that works out. God Bless our Meerkats. MaryJane

I think it was soo awesome what our Flower did in taking in Axel, it is as though Flower wanted to mother him. It was very touching to see!! Looks like her mothering instincts took over, whatever the underlying reasons, it was an act of courage and love, that will live on!!!! Love our Meerkats they are the best!!!! They rock!

I think it simply boils down to the fact that Flower had the mothering instinct, and she knew that Axel was too small to pose a threat to the Whiskers. Whatever her reason, it was an awesome display of mercy and unconditional love and it ranks as my #1 favorite Flower moment.

Another favorite Flower moment would have to be when she took the time to play with the other Whiskers, in the same episode. I thought it was very cute.

If it weren't for the fact that she lost her life, I'd also add the time when she defended her pups and the babysitters from the King Cobra.

What I liked about Flower's adoption of Axel is that it proved she had a soft side. I heard a lot of people say she was hard-hearted for evicting Mozart from the gang. The fact is, this type of behavior has allowed the meerkats to survive for hundreds of years. (If you think that's bad, a male lion will kill any cubs in his pride who were born of another male.)

Flower did allow Mozart back into the gang. And she ultimate adopted little Axel. I think she was like any good leader -- enforcing the traditions that work but allowing a little leeway here and there. I will miss her greatly.

It was a cape cobra that bit Flowers head.She died in less than 48 hours.

Those are all interesting theories, and somehow I never thought about that.

I was saddened by the desertion of Squiggy and wanted with all my heart to rescue him; I couldn't help feeling that if Flower had been there, he would've been better off, but we will never know.

It's like a miracle, though, that little Axel
was left to the Whiskers shortly after that;
instead of killing him as they might have done,
the Whiskers adopted him. It shows that nature can be strangely merciful...

I think some of you are making the mistake of attributing human characteristics to these animals. They don't love or hate; they simply act from instinct. Axel would have been killed if they found him during the dry season because the lack of food would have triggered the clan's survival instinct. He wasn't killed because this instinct was not triggered during the wet season.

This is a spoiler, so don't read on if you don't want to know.

Flower did not adopt Axle shortly before her death. It was a few months before her death. Animal Planet edited it to make us happier about Flower in that episode so we could apprectiate her.

I think it's great that flower brought him into the family. If Axel grows up with the family he will be one of them, be on their side, love them instead of his other family. I think he will be a good leader. Lets just wait and see how he does.

I think the point about Flower and Axel is that whether she took him in the day she died or months before she died, she didn't kill him and adopted him and I think she did that for the family's sake!!

You are so right.One of a kind,no other mother meerkat would take in an enemie pup.R.I.P.

Mitch almost died, he was left out in the sand, too weak to do anything to help himself. If Shakespeare hadn't come along, there would be no Mitch today.

Sometimes I wonder if Mitch remembers that time? He must have been so scared. And then Shakespeare rescued him. Of all the Meerkats, he felt the most empathy for the pups that were lost. He *had* to leave Squiggy, there was nothing that could be done for that little guy, but I think we can fairly say that Mitch did everything in his power.

Then, after being forced to desert his little brother, he found a baby in the sand. Did Mitch see himself laying there? Did he remember the understated compassion of Shakespeare? Obviously we can't say.

Maybe, though, even in the animal world a small act of kindness echoes for generations. Even echoing into the family of enemies. Even echoing to humans on the other side of the world.

Weird. I'm not sure I've ever even seen a meerkat, maybe a brief glance as a child at a zoo. But I've been crying for Flower, and I cried over Shakespere. And I've felt empowered by the triumphs, and empathy in their sorrow.

Do you think the meerkats have any inkling?

Is it normal meercat behavior to adopt a stray unrelated pup?

It is "not" normal to adopt meerkats from a different tribe. If they are in a fight or if there is a raid on another tribe's home, all pups are normally killed. Sometimes, pups in the same family are killed if there is a power struggle between females trying to "climb their way to the top". Remember, Punk destroyed her sister's children to become Dominant Female of the Zappa.

I heard that Axel was adopted on Christmas Day. He truely is one special pup. Youssy's right. Axel was actually adopted a month or two before her death. I only realized this a short while ago. BTW, Axel reminds me soooo much of Attila. He's a new favorite of mine, Attila still out ranks him though.

Attila

thommiegirl: just a little correction. Punk did not kill Lola's pups to become Dominant, she just beat up on an ailing Lola (from a snakebite). It was Kinkajou who killed Mozart's pups to become Dominant.

wow this has brought up alot of memories if everyone would look back and think of all the loved meerkats that died shakpheare taoskca etc. yes i cried when all of them died every time a meerkat dies i cry . u get so emotional and sad when something like that happens. but those things happen and there is nothing we can do. (i wish we could do something but we cant)so if we all remember the happy times like when shakespeare saved mitch , and when motzart taoska and flower all had pups and flower let them live. those r the times we should think about the good happy times .. it is good to remember them and all the things they did but when when u do think of them think of the happy times