"Very Special - Meerkats Anthem"

After so many months, at last I can bring a new entry to this blog.


Here's the hymn of the Meerkats, such as I imagined it. They song through this verses about things of long ago, but not for that lost in memory.
The music is exactly like in "The village of dwarves".


If we look behind a million stories
and far beyond the tide of countless years...
We'll find the Firsts of our Kin.
Royal consorts, Lady and King,
who then gave birth to the firstborns
in our Meerkats Hometown.

The Sun, those times, was like a daily blessing
and every night a haven full of peace.
We had an endless Spring
and the cold rain would only bring
a gift of hope and renewal,
in our Meerkats Hometown.

The Eagles used to carry happy Meerkats
and give them all an hour ride each day.
We always allowed Snakes
in the Burrows to sleep and stay
with newborns cuddling to them
in our Meerkats Hometown.

Many of us would watch the stars delighted,
like trying to read a book in each of them.
The Constellations up there
always watching over our dreams,
were prized above any treasure
in our Meerkats Hometown.

And now, of course, we must get to the story
of those who built the first 'Kat family.
The elder Lord and his wife
have become a legend in life,
and now we'll never forget them
in our Meerkats Hometown.

Those unforgettable times
can be felt right under our feet,
while shining inside our hearts
like the morning light.

"Remembered Ones"

Shakespeare, son of Flower and Zaphod, was born on November 8, 2002, along with Mozart, Einstein and Freud; all of the Whiskers family.

I made very few entries dedicated to Shakespeare and, however, he was one of the most faithful Meerkats in when the Mob needed him.
In his first year (March 18, 2003), he lost one of his brothers, Freud.
But Shakespeare lived enough to take care of many young Meerkats; the long list included Monkulus, Armantia Ditch, Zarathustra, Mitch, Cruise and Jogu.
One day an enemy group attacked the Whiskers and took the little Mitch to leave him in the open, but soon it was Shakespeare who found and took him back to the security of their burrow.
On November 23, 2004, he was one of the brave Meerkats who cornered a Puff Adder Snake... Being bitten in face and leg. But some days later he was recovered from the venom and ready to continue his babysitting of newborns.
When Flower gave birth to Petra, Macchu Pichu, Ningaloo and Popkat, he was there to take care of the babies every time their mother was out to forage.
Staying always with Flower and Zaphod, Shakespeare kept doing his main job, and when some Meerkats of her group rejoined the Whiskers -Flower giving birth to Flo, Kim and Finn-, he babysat them as well.
But one day the Lazuli attacked their burrow; Shakespeare first protected the young Meerkats. After the Whiskers chased the enemies away, he disappeared and left his life on March 11, 2005.

Here are three pictures brought to remember him better, especially with the third.

"Meerkats Go To The Far West"

Being born in a miniature old Wild West town – perhaps this nameless baby Meerkat should be called ‘Billy the Kid’.

But the tiny critter is no ‘lone ranger’ – being one of triplets recently born at the Parrot Zoo in Friskney.

“We built a western-style town for the Meerkats which started off with just a saloon bar,” said zoo owner Steve Nichols. “But it now has a bank, jail, sheriff’s office, general stores, a church and graveyard complete with tombstones.
“It opened in September and we let them go in as an experiment at first but we could soon see they were hanging out and congregating around the church.”

And it was some time later inside this miniature church that a female Meerkat gave birth to the triplets. Their parents were both rescued by the zoo.
The three lively babies are yet to be named – but staff at the zoo are inviting suggestions from visitors.
“Because they were born in the church we have had a lot of biblical names suggested,” said Steve.
This is the second time they have given birth at the Parrot Zoo and its Meerkat enclosure is now one of the largest in the UK, measuring 120 ft by 40 ft.

Steve added: “The meerkats are by far the most popular attraction - we’ve got more than 2,000 parrots, lemurs, reptiles and other mammals, but when people see the Meerkats they just turn to jelly.”

-Boston Standard-

"The Dog Who Adopted A Kat"

A baby Meerkat which was expected to die after being abandoned is now being reared by an unusual adoptive mother - a pet Chihuahua.

Tiny Wilson was born on January 20 - but was immediately shunned by his real mother as the runt of the litter.

Dennis Drew, 30, owner of Mablethorpe Seal and animal Sanctuary, in Lincolnshire had the idea of introducing him to his colleague's pet Chihuahua Kimi - who was going through a phantom pregnancy at the time. She has reared him as her own ever since.

He introduced Wilson to the Dog - who was lactating as part of her phantom pregnancy - and was amazed when the Meerkat fed from her.

After nearly two months together, the pair have forged an inseparable bond. Wilson now follows 18 month-old Kimi around wherever she goes, hitches a ride on her back - and the cute pair can often be seen curled up in a Dog basket together.
'He took to the milk and within a few days Kimi had literally taken over as mother. He started to become bigger and stronger and now he is doing fantastic. The two are pretty much inseparable now and Wilson follows Kimi wherever she goes and they curl up in the basket together.

'Kimi even gets very protective and will growl if anybody goes near Wilson - I have worked with animals for over five years and I have never seen anything like this before.'

He said the Meerkat is on solids now and that he was looking to reintroduce Wilson back to the family who rejected him.

Ms Clark said Wilson had even begun to show signs of acting like a dog. 'He craves human attention and will sit on the sofa for a stroke and watch TV,' she said.

'It's something you wouldn't be able to do with any other Meerkats at the sanctuary. When the doorbell goes and Kimi barks at the door - he will sit in front of her and do the same.

'I'm really going to miss him when he gets reintroduced to the other Meerkats because he feels part of the family now.'

Who said that my mom is small???

"Very Special - Unexpected Rescue"

Little story in four steps...

First, with two actors,

then a third,

who changes the ending

and gains a big "Thank you"

through an even bigger kiss.

"Special - Timon And Poppy"

It Was Always Dogs Befriend Cats... Here We Have "Dog Befriends Kat"

A Pooch from Derbyshire has taken to sharing its dog food with an unusual best friend - a Meerkat.
John Bent and wife Sally rescued the meerkat, Timon, after it was savaged by other Meerkats in the couple's outdoor menagerie, the Daily Mail reports.
Luckily, however, Timon struck up a friendship with the Bent's Pooch, Poppy, who is a Chihuahua-Maltese Terrier.
Mr Bent told the news provider: "They are inseparable. They pinch each other’s food but never get angry".
Mrs Bent added: "As soon as Timon came into the house he went over to Poppy they bonded instantly".
"Poppy has a special spot on the settee and she allowed Timon to share it with her. It’s where they fall asleep in the afternoon".
Timon even has its own collar and lead and goes for walks with its canine companion.
The couple take their pets to schools and hospices to introduce them to children and teach them how to care for animals.

"Castle In The Desert"

>>>>>Notes / Pictures, from the KMP<<<<<


Zaphod may be the oldest Meerkat in the population by years, and the oldest male in the project history... But he's far from being doddery! He's the undisputed dominant male of the Aztecs, and stands his ground when they are attacked by another group, but he also knows to let things happen when his niece and dominant female of the Aztecs, Monkulus, sneaks off with a rover... The King of the Kalahari has become a top notch babysitter showing great vigilance over his family.

>>>>> Charge! ( In His Best Days ) <<<<<

>>>>>> Reflexions... ( In His Elder Days, With 10 Ys ) <<<<<

Experienced as he is, he doesn't need to spend the entire day digging; his foraging is very efficient, and often crowned by the really succulent prey like scorpions and lizards. So Zaphod is still a very heavy male (about 870g) and is in good condition at the moment. Suggestions to smuggle him a bit of extra egg for his birthday will probably not even be very much appreciated by him... Right now there is a lot of food around and he isn't really fond of egg anyway. This doesn't mean though that his human friends in the KMP don't celebrate his birthday... Zaphod was born on December 9th, 1998, to Vivian VVF001 in a litter of three including his sometimes quirky brother and co-star on Meerkat Manor, Yossarian.

Also in the litter was a female named Rapunzel, who lived with her family for about three years and then disappeared as many subordinate females do.

The Kalahari’s patriarch was named after a main character in the popular novel "Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy": the Galaxy's president, "Zaphod Beeblebrox".

A star in his own right, Zaphod the Meerkat has set a new record. He has lived to the ripe old age of 10.
Quite extraordinary for a male Meerkat who fought many hard battles to retain his dominance at the large Whiskers group and survive two long hard droughts in his desert homeland.

After the loss of his long time partner, Flower, he decided to rove but figured out that life was too hard as a rover and he settled with the Aztecs, one of the splinter groups of the Whiskers headed by his niece, Monkulus.

Congratulations to your birthday, Zaphod, may you reign for many more years!

"A New Hope"

She was indeed a sign of hope for the Whiskers group...

She passed away during the filmation of Meerkat Manor

4th Season, victim of a car.

BE ALWAYS HAPPY, ROCKET

“Tosca & Daisy Relief And Happiness”

“Mozart’s Relief And Happiness”

While The Queen Was Keeping Her Reign,

She Always Tried To Follow Her Heart.

"Garden For Just One Flower"

Here Comes Her Own Movie... And This Picture

Should Say It All About Her

"Garden Of Just One Flower"

It's been a year without you, Flower, and very few things seem so painful.

Since your first day on Earth, the brightest star must’ve shone above you, through a ceiling of sand… In a protected night close to mom.
Then, unknown Gods of Fate entered the Burrow while everyone was sleeping, and gave you the invisible but eternal tokens of a golden reign.
With three years old, you opened the door of your own road to glory on Earth.
Not feeling broken inside because of having been evicted, you never looked back to cry and -once more- that star glittered over you.
So your Reign would shine -as it did- from the very start, like some forgotten, or legendary, empire.
For four years, then, you grew endlessly inside, with all you did and through your children… You were a very righteous Queen, punishing with one hand and forgiving with the other.
That’s what your children learned for sure ; that’s the best possible legacy of taught, to be followed for any of us who want to call his or herself child of yours, without the smallest feeling of shame or absurdness.
Now you’re having a well deserved rest in Heaven, maybe the biggest treasure has had been your own life, flower of seven petals.

´"Wildest Dreams"

Under the Sun, and posing together...

Anything you want, girl ?

"Mozart Relief And Happiness"

It's very hard to believe that someone so tender and caring have had to live with so much suffering, but that happened to Mozart ... The most unhappy girl in the Kalahari.

She took care of many other's babies ; went into the babysitting bureau to feed the kids while the rest had gone to a battle against the Lazuli, and when Flower came back Mozart started grooming her ; then always tried to stay by her family ; cared for Shakespeake when he was bitten by a puff adder ; stood by Carlos' side when he was dying, and then very close to Kinkajou when she was dying, even tough she had killed her pups.

It talks indeed of a heart where there was only place for the biggest love... A Saint's love.

Brief Story Of My Favorite Family

The Whiskers
One of the largest groups in the Kalahari, with nearly 50 members and the "stars" of the series. Originally led by Flower and Zaphod, the group is now led by Rocket Dog who took over the group after Flower's death. They once ranged over a three square mile territory, until a rival group, the Commandoes, successfully took over some of their territory.
Rocket Dog :
One of Flower's daughters and the dominant female of the Whiskers group. She had previously assumed leadership of a sub-group when the Whiskers split during a drought and food shortage. She miscarried her first litter of pups from the strain. When the groups were reunited, Rocket Dog returned to being a subordinate under Flower. After Flower's death, Rocket Dog permanently assumed the role of dominant female.
Zaphod :
Flower's partner and the dominant male of the Whiskers. After Flower's death, he initially continued to act as dominant male and chased off any males that approached the group. However, as he could not mate with his own daughter, he left the group and became a roving male. He returned after a few weeks and has resumed the role of dominant male, though he can not act as Rocket Dog's mate.
Youssarian :
Zaphod's eight year old brother and former dominant male of the Whiskers, who bears a scar across his left eye. He is described in the season 1 credits as having "social problems" and is infamous for forcing burrow moves while babysitting the pups. He has successfully mated with some females from the Lazuli and is also the father of Pancake's pups. In season 3, he left to become a roving male. He has not been seen for months.
Maybelline :
Rocket Dog's sister and rival for leadership of the Whiskers clan. With Rocket Dog's leadership secure, Maybelline left the Whiskers with her pups and several adults to form a new group, the Aztecs.
Daisy :
Daughter of Flower with a nervous disposition who was prone to barking with no apparent reason when she was the dominant female of one of the splinter groups. In a very rare event in Meerkat society, Daisy was once evicted by the Whiskers by Mozart, another subordinate female. After Flower reasserted her dominance over the group, Daisy was allowed to return. She became pregnant with her second litter, but as Rocket Dog had no pups of her own at the time, Daisy avoided eviction and successfully gave birth.
Axel :
A pup who was abandoned on the battlefield after an unsuccessful Zappa attack on the Whiskers. In an unusual twist, the Whiskers adopted him after he was found by Mitch. The show states that Axel is a Zappa pup, however his research number indicates that he may be a pup from the Young Ones, who are often used to film Zappa footage.
Mitch :
He appeared as a pup in the first episode of the series. He was once abandoned during an attempted burrow move by Kinkajou, but was found by Shakespeare. As an adult, he frequently attempts to aid pups, including an attempt to save Ren and Stumpy (renamed Len and Squiggy in the US broadcast) when they were abandoned by the group, and finding Axel, an abandoned pup from a rival gang.
Flower :
Former leader and dominant female of the Whiskers. She was born in 2000 and was the mother of 70 pups. While trying to protect a litter of pups from a poisonous Cape Cobra, she was bitten and died. Her unusually successful leadership is the primary reason the Whiskers group was selected by the researchers and Animal Planet to be featured in the show.
Shakespeare :
The courageous son of Flower. He once survived a double bite, on his face and leg, from a puff adder. He disappeared at the end of season one and is believed to be dead. Thomas Flower noted that "Meerkats are often killed defending pups, Shakespeare was a babysitter the day before and Lazuli were in the area. However it is equally possible that he was killed by a predator, dispersed to another group, or was killed by another group whilst trying to join them, we just weren't there on that particular day". More recent articles discussing Flower's death also refer to Shakespeare's death, but also confirm his body has never been found.