My top thoughts on Episode 5:

- Does anyone else wonder how they could forget to mention the Starsky and Kink's impending delivery?

- Episode 5 proved you don't need the "shock value" we've seen in the last few episodes to properly portray the life and death struggles of nature.

- Flower once again proves she is indeed Queen of the Kalahari, a strong leader commited to doing what is best for her family! And again, its our hero Mitch to the rescue!

- The theory that Len and Squigg were actually not Flower's pups would explain why Flower would leave them behind and why no one else would care for them.

- Poor Len and Squigg, my heart sank when Len was caught by the goshawk I prayed little Squigg would be a fighter and survive but when I saw that they were no longer caring for him and he couldn't even catch ants, I wondered if Len would have made it had he had been the surviving pup.

After this episode, I realized that Fluffernutter Moomins could have very easily suffered the same fate as poor Squiggy. The Moomins continued to help feed Fluffer long after he was a small pup. However, in the current drought conditions a pup like Fluffer probably wouldn't make it.

Although this episode left me heartsick, I'm glad I got to know the brief lives of 2 beautiful pups named Len and Squiggy.

But please AP, STOP THE JOKES AND HUMOR ABOUT THE MEERKAT DEATHS! lEN AND SQUIGGY DESERVED A BETTER COMMERCIAL, NOT ONE THAT MOCKED THEIR TRAGIC FATES!

I will continue to watch the show no matter what, and hope for brighter days ahead.

I'm new to this forum. And wish I had been on prior to.

I can't take it anymore. The last 3 episodes have been brutal. And I watched the last 2 right after each other yesterday. Thank you Tivo.

Please tell me they took Squiggy after the cameras turned off-and sent him to a nice zoo???!!! Please tell me they (the humans) didn't just leave him there!!!

And Carlos....I'm still crying! The whole ordeal reminds me of when Shakespear was bit by the snake and he suffered for so long. But he made it. Did they help him in any way? Why couldn't they help Carlos?

I just don't know if I can watch this show anymore!

I don't think they helped Shakes in any way. Don't give up hope Sara, the new episodes commercial was funny and I couldn't find anything in the desription of the episode that could mean that someone dies! Hang in there, they'll pull through and when they do we'll all be here to rejoice in there victory!

I agree with anmlspprtr - If I was a researcher I probably would have been fired by now because Blossom would have "found" her way back to the group instead of getting carried off by the hawk the same way I couldn't stand by and let Len and Squiggy get stranded when the rest of the group left them for the bolt hole.
Part of me knows that this is nature and it happens every day but how can other animals (wild and domesticated) get rescued and not these sweet, helpless little pups?

Hey, I'm just like ginnyb123. I would have been fired already for interfering by saving those little guys. I mean, the researchers are already interacting with the Meerkats by lifting them by their tails to weigh them. Not to mention anesthetizing them to put on the radio collars. They could, and should have helped out Carlos by giving some antibiotics at least. Istead of allowing him to suffer and die slowly.

Bottom line is the camera lingered on Squiggy for shock value, in order to boost ratings. It sucks worse than I can say. Same thing with showing Len get carried off and poor pitiful Carlos suffering and lying dead. Again...it sucked. I have a very bad feeling about the people who are doing this show now and although I love the meerkats, I really don't want to play into their hands by continuing to view. IF...if they didn't leave Squigs to die and IF...if there was a really, really good reason not to give Carlos some antibiotics (other than they don't want to interfere), I would feel a lot better about the people involved. But if everything we saw was just a ploy on their part...well, all I can say is it really speaks volumes about what sort of people they are. Research ??!!... you don't let any animal suffer if you can help it...you just don't! Like I said, unless I hear differently, I'm tuning out. If I continued to watch, it would be like I was condoning what the network and producers of this show are trying to shovel down our throats. And I can't consciously do that. I can't abide any sort of animal cruelty and I feel that their indifference to these animals plight was very cruel.

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more comments copied from repeat themed thread:

brightrubies
Member

Registered: 08-24-07 Posted 09-09-07 02:18 PM I have stated in previous post that after watching MM the past few Friday nights that I stay sad all weekend. Well, this morning I woke up crying hysterically because I was dreaming about Squiggy being left behind. In my dream, I was yelling "Please don't leave him behind". My husband said I was also saying it out loud. I couldn't quit crying about it once I woke up. There are a few shows on AP that I don't watch (such as Animal Cops) because they depress me and I hate to do it but I may have to stop watching MM. I will sure miss it but just don't know if I can continue being so sad.


cazanna158
Senior Member

Registered: 11-12-06 Posted 09-09-07 02:27 PM brightstar it will be alright but there is a next show that will be better the zappas, it seems that season three is the bad time for meerkats i put my blame on the vivains nikita's and one eye's mob. but this is starting to look bad, meerkats are dying here and there, the gattaca are down to 4, and the commandos are in the trouble zone
Ignored post by cazanna158 posted 09-09-07 02:27 PM Show Post



attila-the-honeypie
Senior Member

Registered: 09-06-07 Posted 09-09-07 02:40 PM It's Ok brightstar. Things will get better. In the mean time, we'll be here to confort and support those of us who are depressed. Besides, next episode shoul be safe to watch. I can't find any clues that say someone dies, so let's hope this is a good break from the recent heart-break.
Ignored post by attila-the-honeypie posted 09-09-07 02:40 PM Show Post



runs262
Senior Member

Registered: 02-25-07 Posted 09-09-07 05:04 PM Bright Rubies: For what it's worth, I feel as you do over Squiggy. Other sad episodes have impacted me, but none quite like this. I was literally sobbing after the last scene on Friday night and I haven't been able to shake it. Something about little Squiggy's demise is just more painful than all the others for me - the idea that he was handicapped (no fault of his own), and wound up dying alone and afraid.

If there was any way I could have brought him to a center like Fellow Earthlings, I would certainly have do so. No creature should have to suffer and die alone and afraid. Being picked off by a predator is one thing - quick and dirty - but being abandoned and starving to death (largely because you were born with a condition that makes it impossible for you to fend for yourself) - it's just horrific to me.

I told my fiance I was worried about continuing to watch. I don't want to cry myself to sleep every Friday night. It's not healthy!

Runs
Ignored post by runs262 posted 09-09-07 05:04 PM Show Post



lionesspride
Senior Member

Registered: 03-26-06 Posted 09-09-07 06:30 PM When I rewatched the episode saturday morning, I remember saying out loud "No, don't leave him! Put him on a plane and let me take him to the zoo!" It's always hard for me when something happens to the pups. They're just so cute and innocent that the thought of something like that ever happening to them makes me sick. But Squiggy is with his brother Len now and he can bounce around and eat all the grubs he wants.

I do hope season four isn't so sad (if there is one). I really want the next season to be more like season one.
Ignored post by lionesspride posted 09-09-07 06:30 PM Show Post



mozartfav
Junior Member

Registered: 09-09-07 Posted 09-09-07 06:36 PM I found it difficult to watch a disabled baby meerkat being left behind. Although, I understand the logically reasons, not much food, Flower missing, etc... It was difficult to see the camera stay on the poor little thing, then draw away...I was thinking the same thing, couldn't someone take him to a zoo? poor little thing...may Squiggy, his brother and Carlos rest in peace...
Ignored post by mozartfav posted 09-09-07 06:36 PM Show Post



attila-the-honeypie
Senior Member

Registered: 09-06-07 Posted 09-09-07 07:32 PM I totally agree with runs. Poor Squiggy!
Ignored post by attila-the-honeypie posted 09-09-07 07:32 PM Show Post



wildaffair
Member

Registered: 04-11-07 Posted 09-09-07 07:52 PM It has been very sad to watch what has happened with the little ones. Poor Mitch, he was trying so hard to keep the pups going, but with no help from the other members of the family, he had not much of a choice. I agree that sometimes the filmers should bite the bullet and step in.
Ignored post by wildaffair posted 09-09-07 07:52 PM Show Post



sharkrunner2
Senior Member

Registered: 07-30-07 Posted 09-09-07 08:56 PM I noticed that you seem to be focused on Squiggy. What about his brother Len?
Ignored post by sharkrunner2 posted 09-09-07 08:56 PM Show Post



attila-the-honeypie
Senior Member

Registered: 09-06-07 Posted 09-09-07 09:10 PM Sorry sharkrunner! I do care about Len, he had a heart of gold sticking by his brother like that, but he was picked off by a predator, which hopefully means he died quickly and painlessly. We don't know what happened to Squiggy.
Ignored post by attila-the-honeypie posted 09-09-07 09:10 PM Show Post



cordee
Member

Registered: 08-10-07 Posted 09-09-07 09:34 PM ath, it was so touching to see the way Len stuck by poor Squig. He sure loved his brother. I could see him jumping in front of Squig as the hawk swooped. The episode was so hard to watch. We need some light at the end of this tunnell.
Ignored post by cordee posted 09-09-07 09:34 PM Show Post



southernmeerkatmd
Senior Member

Registered: 09-02-07 Posted 09-09-07 09:37 PM Them pups were cool, ecspecially Len, Hes a true hero.
SMSYIHT
Ignored post by southernmeerkatmd posted 09-09-07 09:37 PM Show Post



attila-the-honeypie
Senior Member

Registered: 09-06-07 Posted 09-09-07 11:05 PM He did!!! That makes him even more of a hero in my eyes. Sacrifying himself for his brother like that, Waaaahhh!!!! And his sacrifice ended up being for nothing! Waaahh!!!
Ignored post by attila-the-honeypie posted 09-09-07 11:05 PM Show Post


cordee
Member

Registered: 08-10-07 Posted 09-10-07 09:29 AM I don't mean that is how it happened, I am just saying that it seemed as if he loved his brother that much. It was just a thought. sorry.
Ignored post by cordee posted 09-10-07 09:29 AM Show Post


cosmicblu
Member

Registered: 09-08-07 Posted 09-10-07 09:44 AM To me this also was a deeply disturbing episode. The researchers and powers that be of this show keep telling us that these meerkats are wild animals and the bad things that happen are just reality for the meerkats. But then they try to portray the show as a sort of soap opera. We become "attached" to the little critters and they cease to be wild to us. We forget that due to the way the show is presented. When one is injured, or dies, we get upset and we mourn, just as we would if it was one of our pets. The producers are either playing into this, hoping it will keep us viewing, or they are all idiots and don't see the pain they inflict needlessly on a lot of viewers. Either way, it makes me so angry. And I can't even comment on Squiggy, Len and Carlos. It was beyond cruel and inhuman what was inflicted on these poor creatures.
Ignored post by cosmicblu posted 09-10-07 09:44 AM Show Post


nimajeja
Member

Registered: 08-03-07 Posted 09-10-07 11:03 AM I know how difficult it was to watch poor Squiggy be abandoned and then see sweet little Len being killed by a predator. However, that is how wild creatures live and then die. There is no way that Squiggy would ever make it to adulthood, because it seems that a meerkat's front paws are his most important resources. How could he eat? How could he even keep moving? The other family members could not keep carrying him around forever. And yes, I feel for these little fellows, but handicapped animals rarely, if ever, make it in the wild. Now even if the researchers did save him and send him to a zoo, they would have to probably have a zoo that would accept him. That might be more difficult to achieve than it seems. Even if they did, would the zoo meerkats accept Squiggy? Those animals, all of them, from the youngest to the oldest need a family of their own kind. Also, there might be constraints on the researchers by the government or some such entity that forbids them from taking meerkats to zoos. I simply don't know. But don't condemn them without knowing all the facts. To tell the truth, I felt sadder for Carlos than I did for those two babies. I believe in one of the earlier seasons, they stated that only 1 in 4 meerkat babies make it to adulthood.
Ignored post by nimajeja posted 09-10-07 11:03 AM Show Post


manorfan
Senior Member

Registered: 04-11-07 Posted 09-10-07 12:27 PM I've put off going onto this site in hopes of getting a grip on my emotions but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

Thank you runs262 for summing up my feelings exactly. I was just devastated when they just left Squiggy to perish in the desert alone and afraid. I can still hear his little cries and it just breaks my heart.

Less than a week prior they were mourning the loss of Len so it was beyond me as to how they could just leave poor Squiggy. I'm getting tears in my eyes right now. It's amazing the emotional and physical strain this show has begun to take on me. I really don't know if I can continue to watch. It so dang hard!!!!
Ignored post by manorfan posted 09-10-07 12:27 PM Show Post


manorfan
Senior Member

Registered: 04-11-07 Posted 09-10-07 12:31 PM Ever the optimist...

At some point during the season, the Whiskers adopt a Zappa pup (Axle) when he gets lost during a battle. This is uncharateristic of meerkats, so I tell myself they do it to make up for what they did to Squiggy when food was so scarce.

It makes me feel better.
Ignored post by manorfan posted 09-10-07 12:31 PM Show Post


nickifm
Junior Member

Registered: 09-10-07 Posted 09-10-07 01:13 PM quote:
Originally posted by cosmicblu:
To me this also was a deeply disturbing episode. The researchers and powers that be of this show keep telling us that these meerkats are wild animals and the bad things that happen are just reality for the meerkats. But then they try to portray the show as a sort of soap opera. We become "attached" to the little critters and they cease to be wild to us. We forget that due to the way the show is presented. When one is injured, or dies, we get upset and we mourn, just as we would if it was one of our pets. The producers are either playing into this, hoping it will keep us viewing, or they are all idiots and don't see the pain they inflict needlessly on a lot of viewers. Either way, it makes me so angry. And I can't even comment on Squiggy, Len and Carlos. It was beyond cruel and inhuman what was inflicted on these poor creatures.
Hi everyone,
I'm new to this board, but I totally agree with this post. I know these creatures are wild animals and that Squiggy was doomed by his twisted paw, but it was completely unnessecary to have the camera linger on him while he was crying for help from the rest of the group. The could have just as easily had the narrator say that the group did the only thing they could and left him behind. I do draw a bit of comfort from knowing that his cries probably attracted a predator and ended his suffering quickly.

Someone mentioned in an earlier post that Len & Squiggy might have been Flower and Zaphod's last pups. But, the narrator said at the beginning of the episode that Houdini had successfully mated with Flower, so Len & Squiggy must have been Houdini's pups. The producers just skipped over Flower's entire pregnancy, plus Kinkajou should have given birth BEFORE Len & Squiggy were even born. It seems to me that the producers are delibarately looking for the saddest, most shocking things they can show.

I said that. And it is there last litter together. They didn't mention Kinkaju and Len and Squiggy had already been born when they showed the Carlos thing. The litter that Flower gives birth to right before... well you know... is Houdini's litter.

He did!!! That makes him even more of a hero in my eyes. Sacrifying himself for his brother like that, Waaaahhh!!!! And his sacrifice ended up being for nothing! Waaahh!!!
I posted this before in responce to someone saying that Len jumped in front of Suiggy when the hawk went after him, how come it got ignored.

I think maybe the producers or editors did the Len and Squig ep so we know what happens to them before the story of the rest of the mobs start up again.

I am really having a hard time watching the show.. I am still devastated by this week's episode. I cannot get the image of poor baby Sqiggy left alone and crying all by himself in the middle of the desert. They replayed the episodes last night on AP, and I couldn't watch any of them. They have just been so sad, it's one tragedy after another. MM used to be one thing that I looked forward to each week, but I feel like I am crying all weekend, every weekend now.

Seriously, I cannot reconcile in my mind that the researchers just left that pup out there to die an agoinzing death alone and terrified. I can't imagine that anyone could do that. I wish Squiggy was brought to Fellow Earthlings to live a long and happy life. I am trying to convince myself that this is what happened to get out of my funk over this image that will not leave my brain.

I don't think Len and Squig were Houdinis pups.

With an 11 week gestation, we wouldn't have seen the pups at all until 4 months after the "Houdini Encounter". I think Len and Squig were the pups that were just born... the ones that put Flower back in the "mood" to mate again. Remember they are ready to mate very soon after giving birth.

Also, on the "brave little Len" issue, I think as humans we like to think that he was looking out for his brother who was disabled, being brave and faithful to a less enabled sibling.

I think it's closer to the truth that Squig was the only constant that Len knew for the first 3 weeks of his life. Of course he wanted to be with his brother, not because his brother was disabled, and Len was looking out for him. But rather he just wanted to BE with his brother. I doubt he jumped in front of the hawk, or really had any other motivation than his own comfort at being with his littermate with whom he was most familliar.

And why is this the first time we have ever heard meerkat pups called "twins"? Maybe to tug at our heartstrings a bit more with the Tale of Len and Squiggy?

Still she did cheat on zaphid thus leaving the babies behind cause they werent his(zaphod rules thats cause my name is zahpodhero

quote:

Still she did cheat on zaphid thus leaving the babies behind cause they werent his(zaphod rules thats cause my name is zahpodhero

Flower is still carrying the pups from her "cheating on Zaphod" The pups she "left behind" were not abandoned by her, she left them in the care of the rest of the pack. She certainly didn't leave them because of who the sire was. She left so the entire group would have a better chance to survive on the meager amounts of food the area was providing.

Episode 5? Geez! Talk about tears! How in the world could the other's just abandon poor Squigy and Len? Meerkat manor has just been so sad latley . I almost don't even want to watch it anymore! I just hope that those darn whisker's will stop having pups! If their mob gets too big they will have to split up! And if they end up having more babies then they will just die more! Either way, something sad is going to happen soon-again.

quote:

Originally posted by unopposed86:
I don't think Len and Squig were Houdinis pups.

With an 11 week gestation, we wouldn't have seen the pups at all until 4 months after the "Houdini Encounter". I think Len and Squig were the pups that were just born... the ones that put Flower back in the "mood" to mate again. Remember they are ready to mate very soon after giving birth.

Also, on the "brave little Len" issue, I think as humans we like to think that he was looking out for his brother who was disabled, being brave and faithful to a less enabled sibling.

I think it's closer to the truth that Squig was the only constant that Len knew for the first 3 weeks of his life. Of course he wanted to be with his brother, not because his brother was disabled, and Len was looking out for him. But rather he just wanted to BE with his brother. I doubt he jumped in front of the hawk, or really had any other motivation than his own comfort at being with his littermate with whom he was most familliar.

And why is this the first time we have ever heard meerkat pups called "twins"? Maybe to tug at our heartstrings a bit more with the Tale of Len and Squiggy?

I feel the exact same way! Those images of when the eagle took off with len and the image of Squigy left alone is just SOOOO devastating! I know how you feel! and I just whish so bad that I could forget about it! Like it never happened..

quote:

Originally posted by ladygillen:
My top thoughts on Episode 5:

- Does anyone else wonder how they could forget to mention the Starsky and Kink's impending delivery?

- Episode 5 proved you don't need the "shock value" we've seen in the last few episodes to properly portray the life and death struggles of nature.

- Flower once again proves she is indeed Queen of the Kalahari, a strong leader commited to doing what is best for her family! And again, its our hero Mitch to the rescue!

- The theory that Len and Squigg were actually not Flower's pups would explain why Flower would leave them behind and why no one else would care for them.

- Poor Len and Squigg, my heart sank when Len was caught by the goshawk I prayed little Squigg would be a fighter and survive but when I saw that they were no longer caring for him and he couldn't even catch ants, I wondered if Len would have made it had he had been the surviving pup.

Read your quote. Notice the bold words. We don't really know what kind of bird of prey it was. It could have been, but the show didn't say what it was.

quote:

Poor Len and Squigg, my heart sank when Len was caught by the goshawk

I am wondering if the presence of the camara and/or cameramen actually alert the birds of prey to the location of the kats foraging? If the eagles and hawks have figured out " camera=meerkats".

I know. I know I have become such a downer. I came to this forum 2 weeks ago a love-sick fan. I called MM the "Adorable Baby Show". Total, complete infatuation with everything meerkat. But I have become so educated about the real issues because of this fan forum. I honestly swear, I could sacrifice never again seeing footage of the adorable babies if it ensure their survival in the wild- free from human disease and media exploitation.

One other thing that really bothers me is that when you go to the section called, "Meet the Meerkat" two of the seven kats mentioned were Len and Squiggy. Why put them on there if they are only around for 1 episode.

It was very misleading. Though I sensed danger during the episode, I was not worried that anything bad was going to happen to the little guys because why would they list them as Whiskers if it does. I mean it just made it so much harder because it was so unexpected.

I think it was wrong to mislead us like that!!!!