I am new to this board but; have been watching the show since the begining. It was very sad to see Carlos die. I was a bit suprised that I actually cried when I saw his little body lying there. I have a question and comment. If we are going to be "entertained" by these critters week after week don't we at least owe it to them to step in when they're suffering?
Some may say, "it's nature", but; if we are going to place radio collars on a meerkat, "Carlos" and see he has a badly infected wound, is it really asking too much to clean the wound up a bit while placing the collar on him? And perhaps giving him at least one round of antibotic, so that he would at least have a fighting chance to over-come his infection?
Poor Carlos...
This message has been edited. Last edited by: mozartfav,
Yes, Poor Carlos. The casanova of the Kalahari will be very deeply missed. I for one wish they would have helped him too. But there's nothing we can do about it now. If it had been me, I would have swept him up and taken him to the neerest vet. I could never be a very good resercher.
I agree with you both. It was so hard to see the poor little fellow suffer. It would be interesting to hear from an AP camera person or director as to their feelings at having to watch the poor guy.
As to the "we can't intervene" issue, haven't they already changed the course of the meers lives by sedating them to put on the collars, filming them, handling them to weigh, feeding them egg, etc. Just by being there there, humans changed what would have happened naturally. So, the "let nature take it's course" argument to me is skewed from the point that humans began to interact with the meers.
Mozart, We've had an extended, on-going debate over the KMP "intervention guidlines" since Episode 4 aired. "Let the Intervention Controverdy Resume" is located in the discussion forum.
Yes, I thought the same thing, why didn't the researchers give a dose of antibiotics to poor little Carlos? They are wearing those radio collars, etc, that is not natural in their habitat. If you view the previous seasons, in the opening credits, you will see one or two researchers picking up the meerkats by their tails and they have established human-meerkat contact, so why didn't they give Carlos antibiotics during a moment like that? I have watched all the seasons and episodes, it is really my favorite show, and I also cried when they showed Carlos' little lifeless body from an aerial view. Remember in one of the past seasons also that a little pup was snatched up by a hawk? I cried after that episode, my husband thought I was overreacting, but I couldn't believe the show allowed that to take place. I really love this show and it is so sad when we lose one of the meerkats, in the recent episodes it is happening quite often. I find similarities between the meerkats and humans in family relationships and family clans. It's a great show.
Well, after over a year of faithful watching of the show, I finally had a chance this evening to check out this site. Wow! what a huge following and intense interest! Glad to see I'm not alone in my passion for meerkats!
I'm also glad I'm not the only one who felt they should have done something to assist Carlos. A shot of antibotic would not have done much to harm the research protocals and let him live a little longer. It would have been interesting to see how the Starsky mob grew under his leadership.
Yes, were watching the "real" lives of these wonderful little animals, and, yes, "protocals" need to be followed for the research study to have future "validity". BUT, when the animals are already acclimated to human presence AND they are being interacted with, even on a limited basis, what ever happened to the "milk of human kindness"????? I agree 1000%....... something should have, something COULD have been done to assist Carlos. "Real life of the jungle" or not, I too am getting a little concerned/upset with the number of deaths we are viewing this season. And speaking of help, couldn't a vet have been enlisted to straighten/fix little Squigdy's leg?
Welcome to the burrow Kelti! I don't think there's anything they could have done for him. His leg was shrivled up and it was kind of built wrong. I'm kinda glad they didn't tell us exactly what happened to Squiggy and show us pictures, like they did for Carlos, this way I can hope and dream whatever I want for little Squiggy.
I think it's important to remember the "entertainment" that we receive is seperate from the research that is going on there. There are important guidelines for protecting the future of the food chain in the Kalahari. What might be seen as simple act of compassion or kindness today, could open the floodgates for even worse conditions in the future. More meerkats = less food. The conditions are horrible enough as it is, in the season that we are watching right now.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: unopposed86,
Yes, we can all agree that conditions in the Kalahari are difficult at best. My point is that if we are being "entertained" by these critters, and they are being given radio collars, I don't think it's asking too much to step in now and then, if they gave Carlos some antibotics early on, he would have at least been given a chance. If we just leave it up to nature are we any better then the animals?
I look to "Winged Migration" as an example. Those scientists' and camermen crew had a deep compassion for the birds, and stepped in to help them, if you ever get the chance, I would suggest watching it, (watch the making of the film), they talk of studying diffrent wild birds through their migration, and what happens to them but; they had such deep empathy for animals that they could not just "sit by and watch them suffer". I'm not saying that those involved with bringing us "Meerkat Manor" don't care, I believe they do but; I do feel they should have done something however small for Carlos...
welcome newbeez! you know, we can argue this topic for the next thirty years and it will still be the same. we have no control over how they treat the meerkats. we will just have to be satisfied with whatever they decide to throw our way. at least each week we can learn more and love them more. the rest, well, we just have to try and cope the best we can whether we agree with their practices or not. i just hope that someday, TPTB will come across this chat line and find out what the real world thinks.
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome...it's nice to see there are others that have a passion for meerkats as I do!
I'm not sure if those that are involved with the show do, read this or the other Meerkat Manor forums that are out there, (I would guess that they do), it would only make sense to know what viewers/fans feelings about the show. I think that it's good that we fans of the show have and continue to voice our feelings about Carlos, yes sadly he is gone, but; perhaps if this happens again, they may think twice about helping...however small..
After Carlos died, I thought about not watching the show any longer but; I love these little guys and like many others here it seems, care what happens to them.
I think it's also good for us to grieve him by talking about him.
Animal Planet, please if you read these forums, please take the commericals of Carlos off, for his fans sake.
oh when did Carlos die thats so sad. NO! there r to many going with the others in meerkats in heaven. Wait wat cut was it i dont have animal planet so i cant watch it i only got to see some of season one and i watched most of season 2 at my auntie's house.
I loved Carlos too! so sad when he was just comming into his own, with his new family! They (ap) are still showing the Carlos commerical! I guess they dont understand how people get so attached to these amazing creatures.
I did notice that on the front page for MM where it says meet the meerkats it has been changed to say that Carlos has passed from the manor. But I did see the commercial the other day though.
This really isn't an "entertainment" show. It's a science/nature documentary about the harsh realities of the Kalahari desert. I sobbed when Carlos died (I actually cry at least once an episode) but there is nothing that can be done. The researchers try their best to not get in the way of the meerkat society. They have to put collars on some so they can be followed, and we can watch them every week. Scientists are always tagging wild animals so they can be studied more accurately, and they wouldn't intervene if a tiger died or an alligator attacked a baby hippo. We can't let our human emotions get in the way of this amazing, delicate balance of the ecosystem. The reason Meerkat Manor is such an amazing show is because of the reality of it. I think Americans are too hung up on the idea that everything has to have a happy ending. Celebrating life includes recognition of it's heartaches. I love this show!!!!
sorry, but; I disagree with this theory. Of course, we are all quite well aware of what the show represents and in certain situations, ie; (baby meerkats being taken down by birds of prey), we might feel sorrow but; realize, birds of prey need to eat too. However, as been mentioned if you are going to put collars on critters at the very least help the poor critters, when their in your hands.
This view, comparing the show to other Discovery shows, where animals are taged for scientic purposes is weak, they do not name these hippos, tigers, etc...
If mm is a purely a "scientic" documentary then don't name these little guys...and tell us about their personalites...
