Comments on: Vaccinations for Meerkat Pups http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:12:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Chari Mercier http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-270495 Chari Mercier Sat, 31 May 2008 06:00:20 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-270495 Bonny (#13), thanks for your comments about the meerkats in South Africa, especially the 2 little pups that you rescued. Sounds like these 2 pups have done pretty well under your care, and that they are growing up. I'm glad that you were able to take these meerkats in and save their lives, and it sounds like that you are letting them live their own lives as meerkats should even with the occasional visit back to your home. At least these 2 pups know who their caretakers are! Hopefully they can become mature enough to start their own family groups of their own soon. Meerkat Manor is back on Animal Planet! Watched the specials on May 25 and 30, and they were very good. The 2 half hour specials were about the film crew and the researchers from Cambridge University that have been in the Kalahari for nearly 14 years, and they all explained what they were doing, why they were doing the research, and why they have been filming these meerkats for Animal Planet for us to watch every week. These meerkats are fascinating animals and one of my favorites. The main Meer Kat Manor series starts on Friday, June 6, 9pm EDT on Animal Planet. I know that there are a whole bunch of meerkat lovers out there that will watch this program! I sure will!! Meerkat Manor-The Story Begins was a great little movie about Flower and her life from a little pup to becoming the dominant female of the Whiskers group. It was great! I think this was the small movie that will lead to the movie about Flower that is coming to the big screen sometime this year. Will let you know when I find out, ok? Looking forward to your next update about the meerkats, especially Ngami. Is she pregnant again? Hoping that she has learned how to be a real mother to her pups now whenever she has another litter! Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL Bonny (#13), thanks for your comments about the meerkats in South Africa, especially the 2 little pups that you rescued. Sounds like these 2 pups have done pretty well under your care, and that they are growing up. I'm glad that you were able to take these meerkats in and save their lives, and it sounds like that you are letting them live their own lives as meerkats should even with the occasional visit back to your home. At least these 2 pups know who their caretakers are! Hopefully they can become mature enough to start their own family groups of their own soon.
Meerkat Manor is back on Animal Planet! Watched the specials on May 25 and 30, and they were very good. The 2 half hour specials were about the film crew and the researchers from Cambridge University that have been in the Kalahari for nearly 14 years, and they all explained what they were doing, why they were doing the research, and why they have been filming these meerkats for Animal Planet for us to watch every week. These meerkats are fascinating animals and one of my favorites. The main Meer Kat Manor series starts on Friday, June 6, 9pm EDT on Animal Planet. I know that there are a whole bunch of meerkat lovers out there that will watch this program! I sure will!! Meerkat Manor-The Story Begins was a great little movie about Flower and her life from a little pup to becoming the dominant female of the Whiskers group. It was great! I think this was the small movie that will lead to the movie about Flower that is coming to the big screen sometime this year. Will let you know when I find out, ok?
Looking forward to your next update about the meerkats, especially Ngami. Is she pregnant again? Hoping that she has learned how to be a real mother to her pups now whenever she has another litter!
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

]]> By: Bonny http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-264890 Bonny Sat, 24 May 2008 11:05:50 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-264890 Hi I am from South Africa. We have two baby meercats called 'Mo' and 'Flo' . The mother died and babies were found next to her. As we also have a bird farm they were kept in a large cage at first and they slept in the birds nest boxes. The are now only coming back at night to sleep otherwise they roam around in the veld all day. The food that is freelly available for them is crickets, earthworms cat pellets and they adore cooked chicken and avocado pears. They are also fond of Pro-Nutro a kind of breakfast cereal with milk. Regards Bonny Hi I am from South Africa. We have two baby meercats called 'Mo' and 'Flo' . The mother died and babies were found next to her. As we also have a bird farm they were kept in a large cage at first and they slept in the birds nest boxes. The are now only coming back at night to sleep otherwise they roam around in the veld all day. The food that is freelly available for them is crickets, earthworms cat pellets and they adore cooked chicken and avocado pears. They are also fond of Pro-Nutro a kind of breakfast cereal with milk. Regards Bonny

]]> By: Chari Mercier http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-260129 Chari Mercier Mon, 19 May 2008 13:59:08 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-260129 Laura, do those 4 meerkat pups have names yet? Hope so! Let us know, ok? Don't forget about Meerkat Manor coming back on Animal Planet on June 6, plus the specials on May 25 & 30. More meerkat fun to watch on TV! Looking for more updates about the meerkats, especially if Ngami has more pups. Hopefully, maybe, she has learned how to be a strong, loving meerkat mom with the next litter! Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL Laura, do those 4 meerkat pups have names yet? Hope so! Let us know, ok? Don't forget about Meerkat Manor coming back on Animal Planet on June 6, plus the specials on May 25 & 30. More meerkat fun to watch on TV! Looking for more updates about the meerkats, especially if Ngami has more pups. Hopefully, maybe, she has learned how to be a strong, loving meerkat mom with the next litter!
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

]]> By: Laura http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-259817 Laura Sun, 18 May 2008 18:05:28 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-259817 To answer your question Aly, yes meerkats definitely eat meat. That is one of their favorites in their daily diet. Meat, crickets, and mealworms. As for how to tell them apart...that takes time. The four adults are pretty easy because they all have different length tails and scarring on their faces. The younger ones are more difficult. As of now I do not know the difference between them. I use their trovan (micro chips) #s to tell them apart for weights and vaccines. To answer your question Aly, yes meerkats definitely eat meat. That is one of their favorites in their daily diet. Meat, crickets, and mealworms. As for how to tell them apart…that takes time. The four adults are pretty easy because they all have different length tails and scarring on their faces. The younger ones are more difficult. As of now I do not know the difference between them. I use their trovan (micro chips) #s to tell them apart for weights and vaccines.

]]> By: Aly http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-259027 Aly Fri, 16 May 2008 23:10:04 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-259027 SO CUTE!! I was wondering do meekrats ever eat meat? And How do you tell meekrats apart? Are there more than one kind of meekrat? PLeas answer my questions! I hope these pups grow up big and strong! Have you thought of the name Tamon?:) well hope to hear more! <em>Moderator's note: To learn more about meerkats, visit our Animal Bytes section at </em>http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-meerkat.html <em>We did have a meerkat animal ambassador named Timon about 10 years ago. He was an extra feisty little guy!</em> SO CUTE!! I was wondering do meekrats ever eat meat? And How do you tell meekrats apart?
Are there more than one kind of meekrat? PLeas answer my questions! I hope these pups grow up big and strong! Have you thought of the name Tamon?:) well hope to hear more!

Moderator's note: To learn more about meerkats, visit our Animal Bytes section at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-meerkat.html

We did have a meerkat animal ambassador named Timon about 10 years ago. He was an extra feisty little guy!

]]> By: Sayuri http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-257207 Sayuri Wed, 14 May 2008 21:17:06 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-257207 Pups are getting really big. In a few weeks, we may not be able to spot the kids easily. I'm really glad that they were able to grew up in their own family. Pups are getting really big. In a few weeks, we may not be able to spot the kids easily. I'm really glad that they were able to grew up in their own family.

]]> By: Chari Mercier http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-256774 Chari Mercier Wed, 14 May 2008 04:36:40 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-256774 Marie (#3); yes, there was a monster quake in SW China in Sichuan Province on Monday, May 12, which registered a 7.9 on the USGS Richter scale. The epicenter was in the mountains about 55-60 miles from Chengdu, China. The 2 major panda reserves, Chengdu and Wolong, were in the earthquake zone. Chengdu Panda Reserve was a little bit farther away, and they didn't have hardly any damage, the staff and other people who work and volunteer there are ok, and all 60 pandas are doing fine. Wolong Panda Reserve was much closer to the epicenter of the quake. The updated news about Wolong was today, May 13, and Wolong has gotten thru the quake, but no one knows how much damage there has been to the panda buildings and other buildings on the reserve. The staff, volunteers, keepers at Wolong have not been heard from since the quake hit with electricity and landline phones still out, and SDZ has been trying to get in touch with them since yesterday. With the roads pretty much taken out or blocked by mountain slide debris, the rescue personnel has had a tough time getting into the region to start in their rescue efforts to save people that are buried in the rubble, and to get to Wolong. The news about Wolong came from someone calling by sat phone, and by Pandas International website. According to PI and other sources there, Mei Sheng and Hua Mei and the other 82 pandas are apparently ok, but won't know the status of all of the 84 pandas until some people can really get in there. The baby panda cubs in the nursery areas were taken to a safer place until the staff can determine how much damage has been done and what needs to be rebuilt. Check back with SDZ website and the National Zoo website for any more updates about Wolong, ok? Hope this helps explain what's been going on there up to now for you. (Sorry Laura, but Marie really wanted to know about the panda reserves.) Now about these 4 cute little meerkats! That little pic that you took in March is sooooooo cute!! As usual, it reminds me of the Animal Planet program, Meerkat Manor, when I see a pic of these little guys! I wish you all could have a cam on these meerkats! They are fun to watch! By the way, to all of you meerkat fans, Meerkat Manor will be coming back on Animal Planet on June 6. There are 3 Meerkat Manor specials coming up on Animal Planet on May 25 and May 30 that will also be interesting. So, check your cable listings, ok? I'm glad that no one got bit by these babies! Grabbing them by their tails is a good thing, isn't it?? Sounds like their favorite food are the meatball snacks! They just love their meatballs! In a couple of weeks, you all will have to go thru this routine again for their second set of shots. Good luck and have fun, you all! Have the other baby meerkats grown up now? Hope they are doing well in their group. Thanks for a great update on the meerkats! Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL Marie (#3); yes, there was a monster quake in SW China in Sichuan Province on Monday, May 12, which registered a 7.9 on the USGS Richter scale. The epicenter was in the mountains about 55-60 miles from Chengdu, China. The 2 major panda reserves, Chengdu and Wolong, were in the earthquake zone. Chengdu Panda Reserve was a little bit farther away, and they didn't have hardly any damage, the staff and other people who work and volunteer there are ok, and all 60 pandas are doing fine. Wolong Panda Reserve was much closer to the epicenter of the quake. The updated news about Wolong was today, May 13, and Wolong has gotten thru the quake, but no one knows how much damage there has been to the panda buildings and other buildings on the reserve. The staff, volunteers, keepers at Wolong have not been heard from since the quake hit with electricity and landline phones still out, and SDZ has been trying to get in touch with them since yesterday. With the roads pretty much taken out or blocked by mountain slide debris, the rescue personnel has had a tough time getting into the region to start in their rescue efforts to save people that are buried in the rubble, and to get to Wolong. The news about Wolong came from someone calling by sat phone, and by Pandas International website. According to PI and other sources there, Mei Sheng and Hua Mei and the other 82 pandas are apparently ok, but won't know the status of all of the 84 pandas until some people can really get in there. The baby panda cubs in the nursery areas were taken to a safer place until the staff can determine how much damage has been done and what needs to be rebuilt. Check back with SDZ website and the National Zoo website for any more updates about Wolong, ok? Hope this helps explain what's been going on there up to now for you.
(Sorry Laura, but Marie really wanted to know about the panda reserves.) Now about these 4 cute little meerkats! That little pic that you took in March is sooooooo cute!! As usual, it reminds me of the Animal Planet program, Meerkat Manor, when I see a pic of these little guys! I wish you all could have a cam on these meerkats! They are fun to watch! By the way, to all of you meerkat fans, Meerkat Manor will be coming back on Animal Planet on June 6. There are 3 Meerkat Manor specials coming up on Animal Planet on May 25 and May 30 that will also be interesting. So, check your cable listings, ok? I'm glad that no one got bit by these babies! Grabbing them by their tails is a good thing, isn't it?? Sounds like their favorite food are the meatball snacks! They just love their meatballs! In a couple of weeks, you all will have to go thru this routine again for their second set of shots. Good luck and have fun, you all! Have the other baby meerkats grown up now? Hope they are doing well in their group.
Thanks for a great update on the meerkats!
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

]]> By: barbara http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-256385 barbara Tue, 13 May 2008 16:50:13 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-256385 Hi Laura, what a great blog, Believe me you should have someone video tape these events and make a series of different animals, it sure would be a money maker. These meerkats are very entertaining and easy to watch. Thank you to all the keepers who take great care of all our critters Hi Laura, what a great blog, Believe me you should have someone video tape these events and make a series of different animals, it sure would be a money maker. These meerkats are very entertaining and easy to watch. Thank you to all the keepers who take great care of all our critters

]]> By: Rose N. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-256045 Rose N. Tue, 13 May 2008 03:56:30 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-256045 Hi Laura – Thank you for a very enjoyable blog. Watching the meerkats interacting with one another is so much fun. This past Saturday, we visited the meerkat family and found them to be quite amusing. They in turn enjoy gazing at the visitors. We also noticed that the pups are rather fearless – not only do they scoot around constantly; we witnessed one pup in particular nipping the backside of an adult, who was lounging in the sun, and then quickly running away. They enjoy nipping and chasing each other around endlessly. While observing, one adult meerkat was putting on a show for all of us. He amused us by climbing up and walking across the tops of the small bushes. All the while I was thinking he was going to fall through the bush onto the ground. No way, he knew exactly what he was doing. This was the first time that I have ever seen a meerkat performing this feat at the San Diego Zoo :-) The four pups are adorable. I never noticed one with a faulty leg - they're all perfect and charming. P.S. Hope the next set of vaccines will be much easier. Thanks for taking such wonderful care of these entertaining mammals. Hi Laura – Thank you for a very enjoyable blog.

Watching the meerkats interacting with one another is so much fun. This past Saturday, we visited the meerkat family and found them to be quite amusing. They in turn enjoy gazing at the visitors. We also noticed that the pups are rather fearless – not only do they scoot around constantly; we witnessed one pup in particular nipping the backside of an adult, who was lounging in the sun, and then quickly running away. They enjoy nipping and chasing each other around endlessly.

While observing, one adult meerkat was putting on a show for all of us. He amused us by climbing up and walking across the tops of the small bushes. All the while I was thinking he was going to fall through the bush onto the ground. No way, he knew exactly what he was doing. This was the first time that I have ever seen a meerkat performing this feat at the San Diego Zoo :-)

The four pups are adorable. I never noticed one with a faulty leg - they're all perfect and charming.

P.S. Hope the next set of vaccines will be much easier. Thanks for taking such wonderful care of these
entertaining mammals.

]]> By: Susan (UK) http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-255666 Susan (UK) Mon, 12 May 2008 18:37:24 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/vaccinations-for-meerkat-pups/#comment-255666 Mmm, yummy meatballs! These little ones sound like great fun, and lovely to hear the latest about them. I know they eat mealworms (mealworm meatballs?!!) but what kind of meat do they like best? I'm very pleased to hear that the one with the bad leg now seems to have healed himself. Maybe he saw the Meerdoctor. Sorry, that was a bad bad joke. Thanks Laura, enjoyed the read. Mmm, yummy meatballs! These little ones sound like great fun, and lovely to hear the latest about them. I know they eat mealworms (mealworm meatballs?!!) but what kind of meat do they like best? I'm very pleased to hear that the one with the bad leg now seems to have healed himself. Maybe he saw the Meerdoctor. Sorry, that was a bad bad joke.

Thanks Laura, enjoyed the read.

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