In my opinion this hole build up and death of Flower was done for profit.
I find it highly unlikely that everyone would stand around while the cobra went into the burrow.
Nope. IMO this was a business decision Plain and Simple.

The whole show is profit based. I dont think her death was planned for more profit because they had to have known they would lose viewers and most of the flowers commendabilia's arent actually from AP. I for one will be really thinking about quitting the show specially with whatscoming to my second favorite Kat leaving.

The researchers are there for exactly for that, research and I don't believe they are there 24/7, the cameras are. As researchers, they will not interfere in the natural order of life as beloved as Flower was and is, they just can't interfere....... I won't say you're totally wrong about profit being on AP agenda in not announcing Flowers death sooner, but even if we did know we would have tuned in to see the fate of her and to be with her "vicariously" in the end. I am going to miss her..

Flower was the star of the show and the heart of Meerkat Manor. I'm sure the producers wished she would have lived forever.

I guess as they say...opinions vary ! BUT, ....that's just MY opinion.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mod_kelly,

I suppose that opinions vary. Personally, I think you're a few fries short of a happy meal to even suggest this. But, that's just my opinion. Maybe you would be better off sticking to beavis & buthead reruns.

Meerkatmike, Your my kind of guy! Enjoy reading your posts.

Meerkat Mike, I have to agree with you that I don't think that Flower's death was staged for profit. As you said, Animal Planet would have to know that Flower was worth more alive then dead. Unfortunately in this world you always will have the conspiracy nuts who see a conspiracy in everything.
I know that if I were there and I could have prevented her death, I would have done so.

As laughable as this may sound, she could be a role model for humans to emulate. She was brave and selfless in her desire to save her babies including poor little Axle whom she adopted.

quote:

I suppose that opinions vary. Personally, I think you're a few fries short of a happy meal to even suggest this. But, that's just my opinion. Maybe you would be better off sticking to beavis & buthead reruns.

Comments like that Mike leads me to believe that you are probably a little light in the loafers. I find it pretty funny when guys such as yourself get a new found bravery on internet chat boards. You probably lived a very sheltered life and had your lunch money taken from you everyday as a youth by the other boys in class.... huh?
You seem very naive to think that profits do not drive these types of shows.
This "research" has turned into a soap opera.
Flowers death has brought tons of publicity to the show and for the up-coming movie on Flower.
Millions will be made on this.
Everything in life has a price...Everything!!

I guess living in fairyland has you believing all is as it is portrayed on tv and the Easter Bunny hides your eggs. Well thats just great Mike.

Good Luck

Hey! You shouldn't be so rude to each other guys! Before this episode, everyone was nice to eachother and considered each others POV and tried not to sound mean. BTW, Bug, I am 14 and I certainly do not live a sheltered life. Nobody steals my lunchmoney because I don't take that kind of crud from anyone! On this issue, I agree with Mike. Watch other documentaries, they have this kind of stuff all the time. They even name those animals that end up dying from time to time. MM ALREADY had a huge following, and now people are beginning to stop watching the show because of their kids and their own saddness and are probably refusing to watch the movie because they're afraid that their kids would crie due to seeing Flower again. Also, the Flower movie was made after she died, being dedicated to her, so most likely didn't kill her to help promote a movie that didn't even exist yet!
I just want the peaceful family like atmosphere back.

Attila

quote:

Hey! You shouldn't be so rude to each other guys! Before this episode, everyone was nice to eachother and considered each others POV and tried not to sound mean. BTW, Bug, I am 14 and I certainly do not live a sheltered life. Nobody steals my lunchmoney because I don't take that kind of crud from anyone! On this issue, I agree with Mike. Watch other documentaries, they have this kind of stuff all the time. They even name those animals that end up dying from time to time. MM ALREADY had a huge following, and now people are beginning to stop watching the show because of their kids and their own saddness and are probably refusing to watch the movie because they're afraid that their kids would crie due to seeing Flower again. Also, the Flower movie was made after she died, being dedicated to her, so most likely didn't kill her to help promote a movie that didn't even exist yet!
I just want the peaceful family like atmosphere back.

Attila

Hello honeypie
you are right, I did not intend to come off as mean.

You mentioned watching othe documentaries and that "they have this stuff all the time"
Can you name me just one animal documentary that follows the same group of animals that are all named for a TV show that has been going on for THREE YEARS??? Didnt think so...
After feeding, playing with, handling, weighing and being around these animals for so many years the research has gone out the window.
It has turned into a money making tv show...so they should all spare us the bull about not interfering.
This is my opinion honeypie.

Take care

The research is still going on. It has been for over 10 years. AP it just filming. Researchers are still their. I doubt they really care what AP does as long as they don't harm a meerkat.

quote:

The research is still going on. It has been for over 10 years. AP it just filming. Researchers are still their. I doubt they really care what AP does as long as they don't harm a meerkat.

Mitch

What do you think they are learning about Meerkats after "over 10 years" of study?

Don't you think after all that time that just maybe the researchers are strarting to throw some "un-natural" stumli at the meerkats to see the reaction.
This is done by scientists all the time.

JMO Mitch JMO

Regards

You mentioned watching othe documentaries and that "they have this stuff all the time"
Can you name me just one animal documentary that follows the same group of animals that are all named for a TV show that has been going on for THREE YEARS??? Didnt think so...
After feeding, playing with, handling, weighing and being around these animals for so many years the research has gone out the window.
It has turned into a money making tv show...so they should all spare us the bull about not interfering.
This is my opinion honeypie.

--------------------------------------------
my first introduction to meerkats was a documentary from "wild kingdom" that was filmed by simon king and he named the individuals in the small family that he observed for a year.
have you ever heard of dian fossey? gorillas in the mist? she named all of her research subjects who to her were more or less family - especially digit. and her research went on for years before she was murdered.
did you ever see "fly away home?" the geese had names.
naming is one of the most common things we do. do you think researchers would rather call them numbers? what is your perfect way to identify animals you are studying?
actually the research is being conducted by cambridge university and many of the names have a definite british ring to them.
since i started with the very first episode, i have never seen anyone from the research team feed or play with any of the subjects. they did weigh and measure them but their contact has to be very limited so that they don't in some way alter the natural behavior.

If you want to see what the researchers are doing to help the meerkats go to this site.
friends.kalahari-meerkats.com

quote:

my first introduction to meerkats was a documentary from "wild kingdom" that was filmed by simon king and he named the individuals in the small family that he observed for a year.
have you ever heard of dian fossey? gorillas in the mist? she named all of her research subjects who to her were more or less family - especially digit. and her research went on for years before she was murdered.
did you ever see "fly away home?" the geese had names.
naming is one of the most common things we do. do you think researchers would rather call them numbers? what is your perfect way to identify animals you are studying?

WHEW!!!! I thought you had me.....Did you forget about the part where it was aired on TV for 3 years running?
I understand the need for names andhow all this works.
I can't understand how you can't see this for what it is....A TV show.
And there is a lot of pressure for air time.
If your show can't crank in the bucks your gone.
There is plenty of "Animal Researchers" willing to take your time slot.

Good day

We may never know what led up to Flowers death. My guess is she could have been easily saved. Is this really a research project? It is filmed at Kuruman River Reserve. Film crews or wildlife photographers are hired “with access to multiple groups of habituated meerkats which can be filmed at a range of a few feet”. Accommodation, food and transport can also be arranged. It looks to me like it is for filming documentaries.
Animal Planet put on their biggest ever marketing campaign (press release on Prnewswire; just google meerkat manor prnews), promoting this show as a TV drama like the sopranos with “attention-grabbing personality spots”, and look what happens to their stars on camera (these are real live creatures). If anyone complains, they can hide behind the cloak of “this is research, we couldn’t interfere”
These “researchers” have clearly interfered in many ways. Photo’s on their website show Meerkats gathered around people like pets. You can’t have it both ways AP. If this is a research and learning program then promote it that way and let nature take its course. But your executives have admitted that it “is big entertainment." To use these innocent creatures as actors in a soap opera and promote it to kids with games and puzzles and other knickknacks makes it inexcusable that you would show your main actor die a grisly death on camera. (no doubt shocking the kids that thought this was all fun.)

quote:

Originally posted by bugnutman:

quote:

I suppose that opinions vary. Personally, I think you're a few fries short of a happy meal to even suggest this. But, that's just my opinion. Maybe you would be better off sticking to beavis & buthead reruns.

Comments like that Mike leads me to believe that you are probably a little light in the loafers. I find it pretty funny when guys such as yourself get a new found bravery on internet chat boards. You probably lived a very sheltered life and had your lunch money taken from you everyday as a youth by the other boys in class.... huh?
You seem very naive to think that profits do not drive these types of shows.
This "research" has turned into a soap opera.
Flowers death has brought tons of publicity to the show and for the up-coming movie on Flower.
Millions will be made on this.
Everything in life has a price...Everything!!

I guess living in fairyland has you believing all is as it is portrayed on tv and the Easter Bunny hides your eggs. Well thats just great Mike.

Good Luck

Your pretty smart. You have me figured out after just one post. Just label me broke, hungry and a homo.
This is why not everyone should have internet access.