Uh... best shag you've ever had? Britney Spears. No, only kidding. She was rubbish.
Bill will read Dracula!
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It’s Discovery : Animal Planet which is going to broadcast Meerkat Manor.
They have a little more information on it :
Meerkat Manor is a soap opera with a difference – the main protagonists are twelve inches high, live underground in burrows and live on a diet of worms, insects and lizards. Meerkats are by nature real characters – comic, endearing, inquisitive and enormously popular with TV audiences. This series takes one group of meerkats living in the Kalahari Desert and follows their everyday dramas in a highly engaging and often hilarious on-going soap. We’ll get to know each individual character as intimately as any human soap star but here the relationships, births, deaths and conflicts are for real.
Bill Nighy is narrating this soap. Broadcast dates are unknown.
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My partner and I have really become involved with the Meerkats and you make it all the more interesting. Unfortunately, we have both fallen in love with Shakespeare and are not too sure as to his fate -we know he was attacked after protecting the pups – have we missed an episode or has he gone to Meerkat Heaven – I have had too many tears but would like to know his outcome.
Anticipating a reply – anxious from Tonbridge
PS. Your narrating is brilliant!!
please reply to me on this is shakespeare alive or passed on and are you doing a new series and are you bringing a dvd out of this series.
pleeeease reply liverpool
Hello commenters,
Unfortunately this is just a Bill Nighy fansite, and he probably doesn’t even know it exists. And I don’t have any answer on Shakespeare for you either :-(
I hope Shakespeare survived somehow, since he wasn’t found in their old place. There is no real news on Shakespeare in the last episode either, it’s more or less an open ending with Mitch (his little brother) taking over Shakespeares tasks.
But I agree that this was a very sad part of Meerkat Manor, which otherwise has been an excellent program if you ask me. Lets hope Animal Planet will bring it on DVD.
Ingrid (webmaster)
Please can you let me know if Shakespear has survived and what happened to him, also are you bringing out a new series and will there be a DVD to buy on this series.Pleeeeease reply
Gerard age12 Liverpool
I have sent an email to animal planet and the email i got back was not to my amusement. I asked them if there would be another “meerkat manor” series and they replyed “We have no further plans to show another series of meerkat manor”. I was quite dissapointed as i was expecting another series due to the cliffhanger involving shakespeare.
I totally agree with you Joe, that’s disappointing !
The last thing we can try is writing to
OxfordCambridge University (the people studying the Whiskers) and ask them what happened to Shakespeare … :-)Correction its cambridge university :P and secondly im already 1 step ahead, ive already emailed them for the fate of shakespeare :P
Im also quite dissapointed in animal planet as i missed the first 4 or 5 episodes and the repeats have started in episode 6 or 7, which ive already seen. Ever since watching meerkat manor a strange feeling inside has appeard, i dont know whats wrong with me :P i think it has something to do with meerkat manor but im not sure. its realy anoying…
Sorry of course it is Cambridge, silly me ! Oh you mailed them good ! Let us know when you have heard from them ! :-)
They started repeats in Holland too, but from episode 1, strange that they don’t do that in the UK. But knowing Animal Planet, they will probably repeat it more than once.
As soon as i find out i will post here, and your right they reapting it until end of october as far as i know (the tv listings dont go into november)
=( unfortunatly i still havn’t recieved information on shakespeare :(
Well we are patient :-)
Are you on here all day refreshing the page? you seem to ansewer to my replys realy fast
!
No I get a mail when someone leaves a comment :-)
Having not received an email from a cambridge university people who are working with the meerkats, i have now sent one asking about tosca, shakespeare and if there will ever be a new seires of meerkat manor. I sent the message to cambridge university DIRECTLY :P
watched tonights episode..11th Oct……and there is Shakespear..did I miss one……..
I think they are reapting them again, was it the one where they were scaring away the jetit?
I dont know if that one was a carry on or weather it was one from the very start as i didn’t watch the first 5
@Jan : Shakespeare is there until the second last episode. (There are totally 13 episodes)
Ingrid, did you see all 13 episodes? if so i was woundering if you could help me get my head around things. Ive see a episode of meerkat manor that showed tosca getting kicked out of the whiskers after having pups. I saw an episode last night that showed tosca out of the group but motzart was still in. i thought mozart got kicked out first then tosca??? Also did you see the one where daisy gave birth in a “bolt hole” a few hundred metres away from the main burrow? this is the one i saw.
Did tosca rejoin the group and then get kicked out again?
Yes I saw them all. And a lot of things have happened actually.
Mozart was lucky, and she got accepted to come back into the group.
At some point the group split up, and Tosca was (for a short period of time) the new leader of this new group. This didn’t last long though, the group joined again, and Tosca was kicked out forever. (She found a new partner though at the end, Carlos from the Lazuli’s, and she was pregnant of him in the last episode, so kind of happy ending for Tosca there)
Daisy was a bit lucky too, she gave birth to puppies, but unfortunately she had to abondon them, so her puppies didn’t survive. Which is probably why Flower accepted her to stay in the group too.
This is so much better than a regular soap opera :-)
hehe i know. Ive just looked at the tv listings for animal planet up to 21st (friday). In one week, this was the listings:-
Monday – Meet the whiskers family (guessing thats epsiode 1
Tuesday – Shakespear dissaperes
Wednesday – Meet the whiskers
Thursday – Shakespear dissapears
How rubbish can you get?
I Im still confused… I saw every episode from when motzart got kicked out, then tosca got evicted, then motzart was aloud in by sucking up to mum flower, i watched ever episode from then and never saw the one when tosca was leader of the splinter group. Did they have 2 splits? i remember one when they were took down the the water troff for a drink and the lazuli appeared on the horrizen and they all split up.
No one split. Tosca even got a transmitter on her neck, because the people from Cambridge University thought that the groups would stay seperated.
It will probably come if you haven’t seen it yet. You must be able to catch it since they are repeating it a lot I can see :-)
Yup. Still confusing thought becaus ei swear i watched the one where the group split. And im nearly 75% sure tosca didn’t take over the split group.
Im still anoyed that they are not planning on bringing a new series of meerkat manor out in the future!!!! I just cant believe that after all the popularity feedback they have recieved that they may never be another seires. It is realy sad aswel because it was left on a cliff hanger. Also with no response from cambridge university or animal planet after 3 days i dont think we are EVER going to find out what happend to beloved shakespeare and tosca!
I realy hope they do another series or atleast bring the current one on DVD/Video
Ingrid im sorry to say i dont think we are never going to find out the fate of shakespeare, tosca and weather or not there ever will be a new series of meerkat manor, 0 out of 3 people i emailed have come back. Quite dissapointing realy. I saw the first 2 episodes today for the first time :) there brilliant. Cant wait to see 4,5 and 6.
I missed the beginning of the episode of meerkat manor, but since then i watch at every opportunity I get. I think it is fantastic!! I really hope that animal planet consider repeating it and that there are further episodes. It would be a huge bonus if meerkat manor came out on DVD for home viewing.
Hi guys
I live in South Africa and my grandmother had a pet meerkat. They are amazing little creatures! I was soooo disappointed when the series ended because I didnt expect it 2 end so soon and also the way in which it ended (like inconclusive?……). I think we should send a petition to cambridge university and demand an answer!!!!! I watched and recorded the whole series and loved it! Do u also think that the storyline at times was a bit confusing and not chronological?
Well, c ya.
I also think the same as you. :P
ive just read that there is no more series im most disapointed I love this show maybe we should email animal planet everyday until they post a new series of Meercat Manor :) I love watching all the Meercats getting up 2 their lives we NEED more shows from colin irvine in scotland
| would like a secound series myself, as | liked the first. Three of my close relations went to Queens College Cambridge.I have always been intrested in Wildlife which can run free,as I have lived out in East Africa ,Sierra leone,sudan and Aden.
I am currently watching the repeats of Meerket Manor on Animal Planet (they finished last night). It is heartbreaking about the disappearance of Shakespeare. Did you ever find out what happened to him or whether there will be another series? I will be gutted if the answer to the last question is no. It is the most brilliant series, isn’t it?
Hello all
I too have loved the series and are desparate to know if Shakespeare survived and if Tosca and Carlos are going from strenght to strenghth. Animal Planet have GOT to produce another series it was FANTASTIC and should win awards. I have seen Meerkats at my local animal park and they are the most fabulous little feisty creature I have ever seen. Good luck to Flower and the gang, I love them :)
Animal planet say they are not planning on having a new series and i have no reply on shalespear or tosca yet. im not going to get one either as its been a month since i sent a message
i cant see why they are not going to do another series, espcially the way it was left with no one knowing what happened to shakespeare or tosca and carlos
hi
i think that it will be good. if we all send emails to animal planet.
i hope that shakespear is at live. shakespear is so good i love him
i wanna see more. if enny body know what the email adress to animal planet is. then pleas tell me.
go on there website and click contact us
http://www.animalplanet.co.uk
Hi all again,
I wrote to Animal planet and I had this e-mail back from them this morning:
“Dear Jane,
Thank you for contacting Animal Planet.
We appreciate the time you took to write to us with your kind comments. We are pleased to learn that our efforts are appreciated.
You will be pleased to know that a second series of ‘Meerkat Manor’ is planned for 2006. The dates and times have still to be confirmed.
Kind Regards
Discovery Networks Europe Viewer Relations Team
E002860″
Hope this helps – I did ask about Tosca and Shakespeare but received no reply as to their whereabouts.
Take care Jane x
Well that’s great news ! :-)
Hi Ingrid
Yeah isn’t it just!! :-))))
I am going to still ask them about Tosca & Skakey though!
J
Whoops I meant Shakey (Shakespeare!)
Well I hope they will get Bill Nighy to narrate it all again at least !
And yes do ask them about Shakes, he was the absolute hero of the Manor. :-)
I have just e-mailed them again and put in this websites URL so that they (Animal Planet) can see the amount of interest that their programme has generated. I have also asked them to be honest about Shakey – if he did indeed die at the hands of the Lazuli I am sure that we would all rather know, it is the not knowing that is the difficult bit.
J
Thats realy great news jane well done, they told me different to that though (look above) but then again that was over a month ago! i just hope its still about the whiskers and not another gang of meercats! In an episode of meercat manor i spotted that one of the smaller groups of meercats that the whiskers had acidently wandered in there terratory, that the dominant female also had a radio colar!
Hi all
Just found this page it is about a lady that went to the Kalahari project, there a piccies of the “Whiskers mob” and even the lazuli (hiss, boo) :-) and I even have Flower eating a scorpion as my desktop now! Sad I know – but I am a Meerkat fan!
http://home.earthlink.net/~afoxtogo/meerkats/meerkat.html
J
Nice web page that reminded me what the other meerkat gang was who the whiskers invaded acidently, the gataka :P Do you think another series of meerkat manor will be on another one of the 5 tribes or not?
Not sure, but re you last post -the radio collar – that was Tosca. When she was evicted the first time they tagged her because it looked like she was going to form another group with a roving male – but whilst Flower was away in her little group of 7 Daisy had taken over as dominant female – Tosca then came back to the group (knowing Flower was ousted out and that Daisy would be a pushover) and became the dominant female – Only to have Flower come back the next day! Poor Tosca her luck was not with her . But it was Tosca that was tagged – you actually saw them do it. She had her tag taken off once Flower regained control of the Whiskers.
j
Since Cambridge University has been studying the Whiskers for 10 years, I think you can count a 100% on that part II will be out them too :-)
Trust me, when they were out foriging they ran into gataka teratory and the dominant female of the gataka had a radio tag on and your web address confirms this :) i hope your right ingrid :P
They have also been studying the other gorupd of meerkats for a while aswel :P
God i hate to spam but jane, could you send me the email of th email you recieved from animal planet please? send it to joe_da_man@hotmail.co.uk
Joe
yes have sent it to you
Please do not send out my mobile number though which is attached from the original form that I filled out from Animal Planet (Discovery Channel)
Thanks J
Joe
can I ask what you are going to do with the email?
ta
J
Dont worry i wont tell anyone anything, its just i recieved email a week ago from animal planet saying they were unsure if there ever was going to be another series. When looking back at the email i found i had sent it to .com in stead of .co.uk (like a complete prune) :P
To all you commenters, I closed comments on the other 2 Meerkat Manor posts, so that all Whisker comments can be written here. It makes things a bit more clear, and comments don’t have to be repeated several places :-)
Hy you guys
Thanks for the fantastic news that they are intending to make or show another series about the marvellous meerkats of the Kalahari. While I hope it mainly concerns the wonderful Whiskers, I don’t mind hearing a little about the other groups as that is still interesting. I absolutely love the way Bill Nighy says the word “Lazuli” as if it is a swear word! It always makes me laugh. As to the question of radio collars: each dominant female in all the groups wears a radio collar so that they can track their movements as presumably, wherever she goes, they follow.
Yes, i am also excited about the new series of meerkat manor. On another meerkat post like this one, someone said that they have rang cambridge uni up and that shakespear is alive and well. He also said that the new series is expected out early next year. I cant wait :P
Hi all!
It is great to know that everyone on this site is as nutty about meerkats as me, especially the Whiskers mob! I agree with you Mel, its is so funny when Bill talks about “The Lazuli” ,and “Carlos” the rougue male in that wry way . I don’t think anyone else would have narrated this programme in such a fantastic manner.
I absolutely agree, Bill’s “Lazuli” pronounciation is great and funny, he makes it sound like something really mean.
And him talking about Carlos “not looking for war, but looking for luvvvv” is really really funny. :-)
I really hope he does narrate the second series too, his voice is half the fun of Meerkat Manor (if not more) .
Oh, fancy Shakespeare being alive and well. I hope so! Not been feeling too well today so that’s just the tonic I need! I just can’t wait for the new series either! I must admit I wasn’t as nutty about meerkats until I watched this series! I love all animals anyway, hence me always watching Animal Planet in the first place! But they are just such captivating, clever little things, you can’t help but love and admire them, can you? They are so comical!
Yes They are all of the above and more , they are SURVIVORS! Imagine being out there in the kalahari avoiding Birds of Prey and other harmful animals and being just 30cm tall when standing on your hind legs and weighing no more that 2-2.5lbs!
I would love to go out there, I know that you can join the project with Earthwatch as a volunteer and that the money you pay goes towards the funding, but at over 3000 US dollars and having to fund your own travel to South Africa – I think it is a bit beyond my budget (oh for that lottery win!)
:-)
Ahh have you been on the cambridge uni site to sign up for that? I also saw that site (asuming you went on it) and would love to go out there to, but at the end of the day im only 14, 15 in december so i guess i can keep on dreaming :) Mel, I am also like you, before meerkat manor i never thought much about meerkats, but in some of the things they do they are alot like us! For example giving cuddles to each other when there in state of shock, looking after others kids (kind of like babysitting in our world or nursery )
Ingrid open the other 2 comments pages please i like talking to steve :P
At your age, Joe, your ddreams could become reality: so you just keep on dreaming! Unfortunately, there is no way I could go on that project, much as I’d love to.
As for the meerkats, you are right, they are like us in lots of ways, but they put us to shame in others as they seem to have everything well sorted out and everyone knows exactly where they stand in their society, don’t they? Harsh as it may be at times, especially for those like poor old Tosca
The 10 year project would probably be over by the time i get the money.
That may well be the case but I think you can still spend time there as a visitor on like a holiday trip. I think you can do this through something called Meerkat Magic. I don’t know a lot about it but had a quick look at their website.
If you do actually sign up to go out there and work with the meerkats, i dont think it will be as fun as you think. I wouldn’t mind going on holiday there and going to visit the people from cambridge and watch what they do everyday, but when it comes down to it and see what actually does happen out there, i would rather only visit for the day :P
Hi all
just got this reply back from Animal Planet:
“Dear Jane,
Thank you for contacting Animal Planet.
We appreciate the time you took to write to us with your kind comments. We are pleased to learn that our efforts are appreciated.
We cannot reveal the outcome as to what happened to Shakespeare, as this may spoil the new series for you, we hope that you will be able to watch the new series to find out.
Kind Regards,
Discovery Networks Europe Viewer Relations Team.
E001984″
Cool, they never reply to me when i ask them questions :P
Are you sendng the to Animal Planet UK? The american site.com does not have “Meerkat Manor” on so they probably do’nt know waht you are talking about.
Try animalplanet.co.uk/_home
J :-)
i do send to them:P then only timew i sent to .com was to ask about a new series. as i said above :P
Maybe I just got lucky then?
J:-)
Sent email to animal planet asking if they know what month the new series will be and if its based on the whiskers or another meerkat group.
Jane, have you set a highest score on meerkat manor game? just theres a highest score set by jane. i know the probability of it being you is low but hey, you never know.
Nah
I have hd a go at it but did’nt get past round 3!! (do you mean the one on the TV)?
J;_
Just watched “The manor” again tonight – must get my meerkat fix!! :-))
Mail from animal palnet, new series will follow the whiskers :D
Dear Joe,
Thank you for contacting Animal Planet.
We appreciate the time you took to write to us with your kind comments. We are pleased to learn that our efforts are appreciated.
At present, we have no exact date for when the new series will be shown in 2006.
You may be interested to know that the new series of ‘Markat Manor’ will follow the Whiskers family.
We hope you will be able to watch and that you will enjoy it as much as you did the last series.
Kind Regards,
Hi Joe
Well done! The answered you at last . Great to hear that the new series will be on our favs “The Whiskers” I love the intro when the piccies of the characters have things like ” Tosca – rebellious” and Youssarian – social problems” :-)
J
hehe, i also fi9nd that quite amusing
Hi Meercat lovers
As my parner Irene left the first e mail on this site regarding our hero Shakespear. I would just like to add how pleased we both are that there is going to be a new series of Meercat Manor. Hopefully he and Tosca will be ok
Hi Ron
Yes Animal Planet replied to my e-mail and said that a new series will be out next year – I know we all can’t wait. These fascinating, courageous, intelligent creatures have all found places in our hearts and I for one love them dearly.
Jane :-)
Hello all!
I too am delighted to learn that there is to be a new series of the Manor next year. I do so hope Shakespeare made it too. He reminds me of one of my rabbits, Parsley. He is always so kind and considerate to everybody and loyal beyond the call of duty!
Hi all
What a great show!! I feel, I’m the only Indian to watch this program, as all other Indians are busy watching Saas Bahu serials or Movies or Cricket !! :)
I really glued to this program on every week end (Saturday 8:00 PM in India – Bangalore).
I wonder what is there in Flower’s neck? is there any transistor to trace the Whiskers group? whatever it is , she is a good team lead.
Narration by Bill is great.
Good work by Cambridge, explore more such serials !!
Educate Indians to watch such serials pleaseeeeeeeeeee!!!!
Rajeev Chavan
Hi rajeev, The thing around flowers neck is a “radio colar” It tracks flowers movements across the kalahari desert so cambridge university know where her and the family are.
“We cannot reveal the outcome as to what happened to Shakespeare, as this may spoil the new series for you”
Wow, does that mean Shakespeare has survived? i was convinced that he had been killed :o( i thought this was why in the very last episode that Flower had lead them all to another burrow, but now there is hope that he survived
They make my morning!! before I used to read my morning newspaper before going to work…but now. And we talk abotu them on work…:-OOO
I had to make a comment about Meercat Manor – I have been addicted to watching it since the first episode and never tire of watching the repeats – there are always bits that I haven’t noticed on first watching an episode – for example, I didn’t realise it was Mitch who was taken away from the burrow by the naughty teenagers and abandoned, it was his big brother Shakespeare who came to the rescue. Shakespeare was my favourite (I say was – as sadly I think Big Sigh did kill him – why else would Flower have moved burrows the next day?- however AP are being a bit cagey so let’s hope for the best)) he always seemed to be so strong and dependable and it broke my heart to see him suffering so much after his snake bite – it must have been hard to stand by and not help these dear little creatures. I also thought it was unfair that Tosca was thrown out of the family, when Mozart had also had pups and then ran off with Carlos under her parents’ noses for a secret sojourn!! I’m glad to hear there will be a second series, as I really would like to know if Shakespeare IS alive or that his body was ever found and if Tosca founded her own little family or was eventually let back into her old one. Thankyou Animal Planet for a truelly wonderful series and thankyou Bill Nighy for your wonderful narration – I can’t think of anyone else would be so good.Glad I’m not the only Meercat Maniac around!!
No Lynda you are not alone,
We are all “Meerkat Maniacs”! :-)
Love ‘em
J
Hi all
Neither have I tired of watching the repeats yet either! As you say, there is always something you didn’t notice the first or last time around. I have only seen the last episode once though and did Flower insist on a burrow move at the end? If she did, perhaps it was just because of all the upset with the dreaded Lazuli! I too hope so much that Shakespeare made it and of course that Tosca founded her own family or was allowed to join her old one.
I really hope Shakespeare has survived and Animal Planet aren’t just teasing us to make sure we watch. i’d watch anyway even if they told us he was alive well in advance!!
Glad I’m not the only Meercat Manor obsessive in the world.
I feel that Cambridge Uni must know what happened to both Shakespeare and Tosca as they have cameras looking at the meercats 24hrs a day. I feel it was very cruel to leave us with such a cliffhanger, leaving us all worried and wondering about Shakespeare (and Tosca too, of course).
Perhaps Shakespeare has had enough of the responsibility of the Whiskers group and has gone to be with his sister Tosca, to help her build up her own group. He wouldn’t be any threat to Carlos as he would not want Tosca as a mate (meercats don’t mate with their own family).
You never know, perhaps Mozart may leave the Whiskers to be with her brother and sister (and perhaps take hers and Tosca’s pups with her). Tosca wouldn’t feel threatened by Mozart as she has overpowered her once already to become the leader of the split group.
What do other people think?
Hi All,
I’ve happened to see this website while checking info on Animal Planet- Meerkat Manor. I’m meerkat Manor’s fan; I’ve shared the same sentiment as you all after I watched the 13-part series of meerkat Manor.
I’m thinking probably Shakespeare has been wounded while fighting with the Lazuli’s group and escaped to somewhere to recuperate. I don’t think he would just leave whiskers family like that. I think he is a smart guy, so that’s why flower’s pups still survive.
Sorry, it is me again. I would appreciate if someone can help me to arrange the sequences for the following :
Family Affair
Daisy’s choice
Flower Power
Some like it hot
Revolution
Love thy neighbour
Boy will be Boy
Calm before the storm
An awefully Big adventure
Good, the bad, and the desperate
Childhood’s end
Divided Loyalties
Move On
Hi,
I’m sorry Patricia, I can’t help as I haven’t been able to see all of the very first episodes, I’m sure someone will though!
A couple of weeks ago I was watching a programme about this chap who went to visit the project in the Kalahari – there was no mention of the Whiskers, instead we were introduced to the Moomins, Allaveeras (I know I’ve spelt that wrong!) and a couple of other smaller groups. I remember him saying that the Moomins (I believe) as a group of 29 – 30 were the largest in the project. Obviously we know that the Whiskers have numbered well over 40, so I was a bit puzzled.Not knowing the date of this programme, I cannot tell if it was made prior to the formation of the Whiskers, at the same time or long afterwards. All the meerkats in these groups had names too, but somehow just didn’t have the same kind of personalities (the Whiskers have a lot to thank Bill Nighy for!) They were a bit boring infact – I could just see Flower storming in and taking over – they seemed like real pushovers!!! He was trying to prove that the Meerkats were selfish creatures – all the sentries for instance, got first glimpse of the enemy and was thus first into the nearest burrow – I’ve been trying to see if there is any evidence of this on any of the MM episodes – it doesn’t seem the sort of thing that Shakespeare would have done anyway. Did anyone else see this programme, it was on the Discovery channel – I’m so senile I can’t remember what the presenters name was or the name of the programme!!!
Hi again!
I have been trying to find some good Meerkat sites. I found this one:-
http://www.meerkats.net/links.htm
which has reams of information about our favourite little darlings – look on the links page and you will find loads of wonderful pics on the various sites.
Now if I were computer literate enough, I could have made it a direct link – sorry – can anyone else try? If not just copy and paste I’m afraid!!
Duh! It did it anyway – it looked as if it hadn’t when I was typing it out!
Do you think flower moved burrows at the end because shakespears body was there OR just because they had been using it for along time and felt they needed a change
Hi all again
Here is a site I came across, it is just a meerkat fan site and you can put your name on the list – safe in the knowledge that everybody else on their is a meerkat nutter ; -)
Needless to say I have registered!!
http://www.benhen.com/meerkat/index.asp
Thanks
Jane
Hi all
I’d just like to think that they moved burrows because Flower fancied a change! I am hoping Shakespeare was only somewhere licking his wounds. Whatever his fate, I am also sure Animal Planet knew it there and then and are just keeping us guessing until the next time. That’s TV for you, I’m afraid!
I was also woundering, on the last episode bill says “that shakespeare hasn’t been seen since and his loss tragity. But in time, other meercats will rise to fill the gap,like young mitch.”
How long after the series was that bit added on? I mean like when they narrated it they were behind by atleast 6 – 12 months. This leads me to believe that shakespear has passed on.
What are your veiws?
*Correction*
Shakespeare hasn’t been seen since and his loss is very tragic.”
Yes, I never thought of that and you could be right, though I hope not. There’s just nothing for it: we will have to wait and see what happens in the new series. I just hope Animal Planet are not going to drag it out and make us wait say till next autumn? I wish they would hurry up and confirm dates. I have only seen the last episode once (it was on again at the weekend, but it was late and I fell asleep right at the end!). Didn’t it say that Flower would soon be replaced or something or I have probably got it completely wrong. I wondered if they also knew that she wasn’t going to be in charge much longer after they finished filming so were giving us a glimpse into the future. But as I say, only having seen the end once and at the time I was still reeling with the upset of Shakespeare’s disappearance, so I can’t remember what exactly was said now?
I’m going to watch the repeated last episode tonight; probably can answer your queries. :-)
Well I feel like I’ve come home after reading all these comments! In the pub at the weekend I tentatively mentioned about MM and was surprised how many other people watch it. My friend is a deadringer for Carlos, looks wise, which was initially what made me ask if people had seen it!
Can’t wait for the next series – Viva Shakespeare!!
Hi,
I am a huge Meerkat Manor fan and just watched the last episode tonight. It is sooo sad about Shakesphere. I missed the first 4 or 5 episodes. Do you if they will be relising it on DVD? ANd are they going to have a second series? Now what am I going to do on Wed nights :(
Here in the UK they repeat MM everyday of the week except sat + sun
Hello again
Here in the UK they repeat MM every day of the week and then it is on very late on Saturday nights, not sure about Sundays but I think it is just 11 and 11.30 pm on Saturday nights, hence me falling asleep the other night and missing the end. I did laugh, Ceri, at you saying that your friend is a deadringer for Carlos and glad you added the with looks part!
Hi again,
I was wondering how they came up with the names – do they wait for them to ‘earn’ their names (as in Columbus – the exploring pup?) Or have they just named them randomly? I can name less than half of the Whiskers: Flower, Zaphod, Youssarian,Shakespeare, Tosca, Mozart,Daisy,Pooky,Mitch,Cruz, Columbus,Rocky (Mozart’s pup -left to die in the desert) Parsley, Sage,Basil, Rose,Petra, Mary-Pat,Sophie, I told you I was senile!!! I can’t remember the names of Tosca’s two teenagers, who were so bored with baby-sitting they ran off and got lost. Also not seeing the very first episodes, I’m not sure if all the adults were introduced then. Do they remind us of anyone famous? Flower could be Peggy from Eastenders (UK) or Mozart or Daisy being Samantha from Sex in the City!!!! Any ideas?
McMurphy and Jogue were they?
I laughed at the idea of Flower being like Peggy from Eastenders. Mind you, she doesn’t stand any nonsense from her children, does she? However, with Peggy, it was her sons who were both so wayward, not just her daughter
Joe – you’re right, I’m sure. That makes 21, any others?
Pozo is the only other i can think of.
Hi All
I think that Youssarian is “Mr Bean” as he has social problems! I love Youssarian, especially the way he holds his arms (one lower than the other, crossed at an angle), he might be a misfit but I love him!
Jane
how do you spell the name (kinkajou/kinkajew)? The 1 that took baby mitch into the brush. I’d really appreciate some help :)
Hi all
Isn’t there also one called Einstein? So do I love Youssarian!
Hi
Yes he is a cutie, isn’t he Mel! :-)
Big up for Youssarian!!!
How can you big up Youssarian?? He instigated a completely unnecessary den move which resulted in the death of one of Flowers Young!!!
He has caused nothing but trouble and is never there when the family needs him
Ah! But we all know family members like that, don’t we? He was apparently Flower’s mate at some time I think: didn’t Bill Nighy say that in his commentary once? So perhaps he holds a bit of a grudge!!!! No seriously, I don’t think animals are like us humans in that respect. He obviously thought he was acting for the best in instigating the unnecessary den move and it wasn’t all his fault that it went wrong!!!! I am doing my best here!! Perhaps us women are more compassionate, hey? Only joking!!!! Come on Jane, back me up!!
Yes Mel
I agree with you. And don’t forget that when he was a pup he was dropped from a height by an eagle owl, that must of:
A) caused him distress and hurt a hell of a lot
and more importantly:
B) Meerkats, are I am sure like humans who have had nasty head injuries,are prone to acts of unforgetfullness and unpredicatable reactions in some cicumstances. It might have caused a lot of damage to his sensory receptors in the brain and also his rational thought.
So yes I still “Big Up” Youssarian because he is a fighter who had a tremedous trauma when he was a mere pup and survived. I agree Mel, he thought he was acting for the best in the den moves, but as I have juat stated because he had trauma to his head he may be terrribly forgetful and be irrational (not his fault!)
J
Hello Jane
I am glad you agree! I had been thinking more or less along the same lines too. Perhaps the trauma to his head from that drop by the bird of prey had kind of affected him mentally so he had become a bit irrational. But never mind, we still love him! So yes, a huge whopping great “big up” to Youssarian!!!!
Go mel!! :-)
Go Youssie!!
J ;-)
For those interested, I think the correct episode order for series one is as follows. This info was put together based on the order the shows were played on Animal Planet in the UK. It appears to be correct but I haven’t done a really thorough check to make sure.
01. A family affair
02. Love thy neighbour
03. some like it hot
04. Revolution
05. Childhood’s end
06. Boys will be boys
07. Divided loyalties
08. The good, the bad and the desperate
09. Daisy’s choice
10. Flower power
11. An awfully big adventure
12. The Calm Before the Storm
13. Moving on
Rangi, you’re a star!!!
animal planet really annoyed me when they took the sries off i hope they bring it out early next year on the same family! :)
There is apparently to be a new series next year on the same family, so let’s hope they will hurry up and show it!!
Hi
Would like to wish everyone ” “MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR”!
Or “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” :-)
Heres to a great 2006 with new adventures from “our” gang THE WHISKERS!!
Jane x
Yes Happy Holidays to all you Meerkat Manor Maniacs :-) Hope to bring news about the new series soon !!
Ingrid
meerkat manor meerkat manor meerkat manor meerkat manor meerkat manor meerkat manor meerkat manor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey are all of you sure that shakespear is alive?
Thanks Rangi. I really appreciate you help to arrange the order. Wish all the meerkat maniacs merry x’mas and happy new year!!! :-)
Unfortunatly i think Shakespear has passed on (or im 90% sure of it). I email AP again to ask if they now new when the new series was coming out. They said the same as last time, 2006.
:( thats really upseting i loved shakespear
any way thanks for the news joe
Hi everyone,
My PC crashed so I haven’t been able to post – anyway just wanted to wish you all a merry christmas and a happy new year ( full of lots of new Whiskers’ tales!) Go Meerkat Manor Maniacs!!!!
And a happy new year to you all too and how sad am I coming on here on Christmas day itself!!!!
did they paticullary say when it would be on?
Why not check for yourself what happened to our beloved Shakespear or shake paws with Tosca by joining the research group studying the meerkats of the Kalahari? According to the Earthwatch website http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/clutton-brock.html, you can become part of any of the 10 teams that will join the researchers in the Kalahari in 2006. The first team already leaves 14 March 2006.
If only life was that easy!!! I have a family of my own to take care of, not to mention numerous animals – no meerkats though!!! Oh and one other important ingredient which I forgot about – no spare cash!!!!!! Nice thought though.
I just watched a programme on BBC2 (I think it was Natural World) and it was about Flower and her eldest daughter who they called Ella but I am sure it was Tosca and they just re-named her. There was a split just like on Meercat Manor and Ella took control. I am very confused, I’m sure they made it out of episodes of MM. I looked out for Shaekspeare but couldn’t see him though. Did anyone else watch it?
Where’s everyone gone
Hi! Well, I am still here. Unfortunately, as I didn’t see the meerkat documentary, I can’t throw any light on whether it was Flower and her gang or not.
Anyway, it’s the famous “2006″ now so the new series of MM is now this year and not (hopefully!) next. I wish they would hurry up and let us know when it will be shown as I do so much want to know how the dear little creatures are!
No I did not see the documentary either.
Anyway heres to the new series with “our” Whiskers ( big up Youssie!!) ( I know you agree Mel!!) :-))
J
Yes, a very big up Youssie!!!!!
:-)
Keep up the good work folks, – lots more of us watching and waiting for MM to return
Not half!
Well I’m still here – just! It’s hard to get onto the pc with all my family fighting over it – and it keeps breaking down.
Glad to see they are now advertising the new series to begin in The autumn – but can we wait that long – as I said before – we can’t wait – we won’t wait!!!!
Belated Happy New Year to everyone.
Have they really started advertising the new series to start in the autumn already? I haven’t been watching the TV much recently: no central heating downstairs so too cold!!! When we get it mended, I look forward to watching Animal Planet once more. Can’t wait – it’s cold here!!
http://www.pangolin.li/travel_sites/RSA_Namibia_Sep05/Meerkat_diary.html
Some of you might like to look at this website which has some interesting info about the Whiskers and their neigbours.
On that website its behind, it says new series will be in september 2005 lol.
Great website Ann
lovely pics especially the one of “The Young Ones” meercat with sand on his chops – fantastic.
I love these feisty little creatures soooo much ( but hey – “The Whiskers” are my fave – as I am sure eveyone one this site would agree).
Heres to MM SOON!!!!!!!
Jane :-)
Here here!
Hi Meerkat Manor Maniacs :-)
Just found this forum since it linked to my webpage pangolin.li – thanks, Ann! I’m glad you liked my diary of my time with Whiskers and their neighbours… At the time of my stay in August 2005, we got hold of the first ad about Meerkat Manor in a South African magazine, and I knew I wouldn’t return home in time to see it. Now I see I missed a lot…
Well, I was lucky to meet the Whiskers stars in person – but on the other side I’m extremely unlucky since my TV provider here in Switzerland doesn’t offer AnimalPlanet – so you guys know Flower, Youssarian and the other Whiskers probably better than me. But don’t “hiss” me when I now admit that I liked their neighbours the same – all of them are funny and caring, but all of them can be mean, too.
So, did anyone of you ever ask AnimalPlanet whether the 1st episode will come out on DVD? I’d love to see the meerkats again, and the way you describe it makes me want to see Meerkat Manor!
evi :-)
PS: The “Young One” with sand all over is Maja – sweet young girl, and she was digging like hell for five minutes – but no luck! Happens quite often with young meerkats, they first need to learn where to dig. Anyway, the pic is one of my favourites. Check out the gallery, there are much more pics there:
http://www.pangolin.li/pub_pic/RSANam05
Hello Evi
So you were there in August of last year? Do you know then if Shakespeare survived? Of course you haven’t seen the series but Shakespeare is one of Flower’s sons: very sensible, responsible and always risking himself for the sake of the family. At the end of the series, he had disappeared after an invasion by their arch enemies, the Lazuli. So we are left not knowing if he survived or was injured by Big Cy and later died. There is to be a new series later this year but that seems a long time to wait! As to whether they are going to bring the series out on DVD, I have no idea. But I’ll certainly keep my ear to the ground!
Hi Mel
Yeah, I was there after the movie had been filmed, and I also read here that the fate of Shakespeare is one of the major concerns in this forum… But no, I cannot tell about him, since I do not know!
I’ve only been with Whiskers once (was a very eventful afternoon, since they were fighting Lazuli :-D), and I didn’t notice whether someone called Shakespeare was on our group list. On the other hand, I very well remember Youssarian: He was out roving when I was with Whiskers, and the next day he was the one mating with Cazanna, the matriarch of Lazuli who had recently lost her mate to TB. Let’s see whose side Youssarian is on in MM2…
It happened quite often that males were not with their families for a few days, or even families were separated in two groups. So I believe that Shakespeare was rather out roving – but I cannot tell for sure.
Sorry I can give you no better news!
To answer another question in the forum: The meerkat names used in MM are the same we used in the Kalahari. Names are given to the meerkat pups by the volunteer who mostly watches the group at the time they come out of the den. Therefore, some are named after musicians, or painters, after types of drugs, comicstrip heroes or after the volunteer’s family… For scientific purposes, each meerkat also has a code, but you really wouldn’t bother with that for a meerkat movie.
Anyway, I’ll certainly come back to this forum hoping that there will be news about a DVD – or else I just write to AnimalPlanet.
Thanks so much for the interesting info! So things haven’t improved with the Lazuli (giggles!). Oh dear!! I am sure we would all love the other families just as much and naughty old Youssarian!!! We will keep you posted!
Meerkat Manor is being shown on Animal Planet in Canada. I saw the first episode this evening. What lovely animals! And Bill’s narration is fantastic. He puts so much feeling into it.
Hi all
In my last couple of posts I said “Big up Youssie” and it looks like he has (with “The Lazuli” (said in Bills fab tone)! ;-)
Ahh…little youssies at last!
I’m a happy bunny now :-))))))
Jane
Hello all!
Yes Jane, little Youssies! What a sheer and utter delight they should be! Big up Youssie!!
Evi, you said that volunteers name the pups when they first come out but how do they know what sex they are? Just wondered, that’s all
I live in Los Angeles, California, and am looking to buy the series “Meerkat Manor” on DVD or VHS (playable on U.S. machines) – can anyone out there help me, or point me in a helpful direction? Thanks so much!
Hi Leigh
As far as I am aware, the series hasn’t been released on either DVD or video as yet. Judging from all the above comments alone, I think they would sell a fair few copies if that does ever happen. Perhaps one of us ought to email Animal Planet and ask them if they have any intention of ever bringing out the series.
hi mm’s!
thanks Evi for the link – lucky you – although I wouldn’t fancy the heat and insects, but it must have been a wonderful experience. Are you thinking of going out again this year? – I know it’s expensive, but you must be the envy of all your frinds. I haven’t found out about any DVDs yet, but here is a link to Allposters.com that have lots of meerkat pics which can be used as desktop backgrounds or free e-cards or ofcourse you can buy the posters which, starting at £35, I thought were a bit expensive – however you may not think so!
Speak to you all soon xxx
http://www.allposters.co.uk/gallery.asp?
It might have helped if I’d actually put the link with my message!!!
hello i (12) dont realy watch meercat manour but my little sis (9)does and she realy enjoys playing the game she is playing it now well she has stopped now but she got up two level 6 wich is actully prety good well in my opinion.i love crocodiles so could u plz put on some more crocodile shows coz they roc thanx bibi.
from olivia age 12
and lilsis annabel age9!
Guys, about Shakespeare, I believe he was hurt during the fight with the Lazuli and most probably, the crew there took him to take care of him till he gets better; I hope this is the way it happened !!! On the one hand, had he been killed, the pups would have been killed too; on the other hand, if ok, he would never have left the pups alone… I really hope we will see the lovely creatures again :-)
meerkat manor is awesome i wish i wouldnt have seen this site tho and ruined the show now im gonna be waitn for the shakespeare episode obviously but still awesome show and please do meerkat manor 2 or some other animal reality show!!!
I thought it was time I added my comments
to this website as well: Long Live Meerkat Manor!
God Bless the “Whiskah’s” family: Flower, Tosca, Daisy, Shakespeare, Columbus & Bros., Mitch and gang, Mozart, Zaphod, Venerian? and all the rest of Great Great Gramma Flower’s clan. (But Flower, please go a little easier on dear Tosca; the brutal punishment you dish out does not fit the minor crime. Tosca is nothing but a heart broken scape goat for you and your mindless gang of goons. – Then again, maybe it takes the experience of such ostracization in order to rise up the new Queen, once Her Majesty (Flower)has stepped aside -abdicating her throne to her amazingly courageous (and rebellious) daughter currently suffering in the margins of her society – the ‘lunatic’ fringe. It’s a wonder Tosca hasn’t lost her cool and really let her unforgiving mother have it!!!
Thank you Cambridge University Biology Department for this very brilliant study. Many Thank You’s to TV Ontario (Canada) for bringing this wonderful series to us. Bravo!!!Encore!!!
Hello!
I’ve just been using google to find out more about Shakespeare’s whereabouts when I stumbled over your site and I must say that I am very higly impressed.
May I introduce myself first.
My name is Jeannette and I have fallen in love with meerkas since when I was a child and just because of – you can now hit me for that ;) – The Lion King. I so much fell in love with Timon that I started liking those little rascals as well. Today I draw tons of fanart, featuring Timon or rl meerkats in general, I even tried on the MM meerkats. ^^
Unfortunately those sweet animals were not really popular when the movie came out and I remember that I so often was looking for some meerkat documentaries on TV but couldn’t find any.
Then years ago I saw one on Premiere about a small colony, the parents, their three children and later four little baby meerkats. Unfortunately they all died except of one male which was luckily accepted in another colony. Maybe some of you remember that documentary.
Then I saw meerkats in general Africa documentations now and then but last year I stumbled over a trailer talking about ‘Meerkat Manor’ on Premiere/Animal Planet and I was so excited since it would be a little series just about meerkats. I started watching it every week, I did not miss one episode!
After a short time it was clear that Shakespeare had become my favourite. I was so afraid that he might die after the snake bite, I remember me running around so nervously the whole week until the next episode.. x)
Luckily he survived and the more I loved him! And then the last episode… can you imagine that I went up in my room after it was finished, sat on my bed and started to cry? His death was so terrible for me, even though I’ve read that people are still speculating about him and if he might have survived though. All I can say that his death really brought me down. Even though it was 11 pm I dooled a little picture for him, I got so depressed I even still remember the date the eipsode was shown here and by now I call every single meerkat item I get ‘Shakespeare’. Small figurines and plushies, it doesn’t matter. Even now, five months later it still always gets me when someone mentiones his name or meerkats in general, since I miss him so much. :(
Fact is that I also believe he is dead. Even though there will be more episodes I don’t think he survived and that he’ll show up again. They talked about the loss of Shakespeare, he did not show up when his family came back, only the little ones, and since the film team did not help him when he was bitten by the snake, nor Mozart’s little baby that died all alone in the desert, I don’t think they saved him to look after him until he’s fine again…Obviously he is dead, even though I wish he’d still be alive..
But this series impressed me so much, that I decided to do something similar like those Cambridge students do, since I started studying biology last autumn. I hope that I can work with those little rascals later on and I must say that I am really impressed how many people actually like meerkat manor and the animals in general! That’s great!
Btw, I’ve got a bunch of meerkat photos online taken in a zoo near where I live, if someone is interested in those, even though they are no whiskers photos, feel free to contact me ;)
So, I hope we’ll all get to know more about Shakespeare soon!
Greetings,
Atimon
Hello all
I know, I feel the same as Atimon that probably Shakespeare is dead and I took it very much to heart as well and still feel very sad at the idea. I too think that they talked about one of Flower’s sons being the Shakespeare replacement and they must know whether or not he survived. Poor Shakespeare and he went through so much!
Has anyone heard when series 2 is to be shown yet?
Mel, UK.
i am on the serch for a tv show called meerkat manor i cant seem to find a blog for it so pleas help if you can
hi all
i have been so happy to have come across this website i have been on the serch for this info for about two months
Shakespeare is not dead or they wold not bother hidding the truth abuot it
Hrm..I don’t think so. Read my earlier reply about what I think might have happened.
Besides, I think they hide the truth about it to make sure everyone will watch the following episodes, because so many people still see a chance for Shakespeare.
In the worst case they start the new episodes with a complete ‘new beginning’, maybe with the fact that Flower, Zaphod or even both died and someone else is now leading the group, maybe the group finally splitted into two parts, etc… no one can really tell until the new episodes are out, but I could imagine a start like that because they mentioned at the end of the last episode that Flower and Zaphod solved so many problems and proved that they are good leaders, but look quite old by now and after the sudden and unexpected death of Shakespeare in the last episode I would not really wonder about a beginning like that – even though I also hope that both will show up again as well as Shakespeare.
I was hoping to learn what happened to Shakespeare. Seems from reading all the posts I’m not alone.
I’ve only seen two eps, the one where shakey gets bit and the one where he’s still alive the next day with mozart sticking by him. i googled ‘meerkat manor’ shakespeare hoping for a spoiler of whether he did or didn’t make it. seems still unsure? poor little guy! “he’s received a vicious double bite.” “the terrified creature hobbles home.” “even his breathing is labored.” “his flesh is rotting.” somebody call an ambulance!
I’m not going to watch this program anymore if we don’t find out if Shakespeare lived or died. It’s not fair to those of us who watched him painfully walk off from the snake bite. I got sucked into this show in just one episode – the snake bite/Shakespeare episode. And I feel like we are owed some kind of explanation of what happened to Shakespeare.
This show and The Little Zoo that Could have my whole family glued to Animal Planet.
I hope Animal Planet will please let us know what happened to Shakespeare in the near future.
I’ve been waiting for weeks to find out what happened to Shakespeare. And so have my mother and daughter.
I agree. I’ve watched many episodes more than once and keep concluding that I’ve missed the part where Shakespeare lives or dies. I hope he makes it but I definately want to know.
Cambridge University has answered this long ago : yes Shakespeare lives ! :-) He will probably be back in the second series.
He IS alive? He survived the attack on the warren/den? are you sure? 100% sure?
Where did Cammbridge put this info??
go to animal planet’s web site – it confirms that he survived two bites from the snake.
Oh, i know he survives the snake bite, it was something that happens after that. Oh well, i won’t spoil it.
Yes, Shakespeare indeed survived the snake bite, I can also assure those people who came here, worried if he survived the snake-attack or not, but that was not what we’ve been discussing here so far.
I guess we were refering to something else, but I also don’t want to spoil it for anyone here.
Did Flower’s daughter (the one that had babies) ever rejoin the group? Last I saw Flower would not let her and the rest of the group stood behind Flower. Please don’t tell me she died. Let me know.
thanks.
It depends on which daughter you were talking about. Both, Tosca and Mozart got babies as far as I remember and Flower threw both of them out. Mozart got back into the group, because she was accepted by Flower again after a while, but Tosca never made it back into the group. She always stayed in the same area with her family, but was never allowed to come back.
But, don’t worry, she survived until the end of the 13th episode and even mated with Carlos, so she’ll probably will fond a new family with him.
The first series of Meerkat Manor is being released on DVD on the 4th September. No joke!!!
Check it out on play.com
Just got this from Animal Planet
“Dear Matthew,
Thank you for contacting Animal Planet.
You will be pleased to hear that a new series of ‘Meerkat Manor’ is scheduled for the 4th Of September at 19.00hrs & 19.30hrs. It will then be shown every Monday until the 25th Of September. We hope you will be able to watch and that you will enjoy it as much as you did the last series.”
At Last! Thanks for all the info!
Wow, Matt, that’s really great news!!! I haven’t been on this page for months, and now I see that I can finally watch MM1 on DVD!!!
At the risk of sounding like a boring scientist, I just wanted to mention a recent article published in Science magazine, by two Cambridge researchers. They could clearly show that young meerkats not only learn to find and kill their food by watching the grown-ups do this. No, meerkats really TEACH, and even adapt lessons to the age of the pupils! This may sound funny, but so far real teaching is only (scientifically) known from humans and ants… :-) Email me via my webpage, if you want more info.
To answer Mel’s question earlier on: The Pups are named once their gender is known, i.e. once they come out of the borrow. Usually they are not very shy towards humans, since they see their family undisturbed by the researchers. Some of the animals were given rather strange names – unfit for the TV audience, as I now recall, so some of the animals did get more decent names when they became movie stars.
Maybe Shakespeare was one of them, and I indeed met him when I was there, under his other name :-)
We’ll soon know for sure!
Will you guys come back and talk more Meerkat when the new series starts in Sept?
Just finished watching the last 4 episodes of Meerkat Manor in the US and of course I immediately googled Shakespear to see if he was alive and found this site. I am a little confused as I thought I read earlier that someone had contacted the Cambridge researchers and they confirmed that he was alive and will be in the second series?? Was this after the snake bite, which I haven’t seen or after the Lazuli attack?
Also does anyone know if the second season is also starting in September in the US?
Hi all;
I went to the Great Minnesota State Fair tonight and missed the last episode of Meerket Manor…the one that should begin with Shakepeare fighting to protect Flower’s pups. Does anyone know???? is he ok????
I’ve read thru this entire thread of emails and think I might be asking the same question everyone else is asking…but, as I said, I missed tonight’s episode.
Hoping to hear.
Carol
I just saw the last episode of MM, when “Brave little Shakespeare” turns and faces Big Cy, and you hear the excited chittering. THAT was on camera, so how could the fight not have been?
I am angry at the makers of this fine series for manipulating us so and for being by turns interfering and at other times crues in their research and the making of this series.
For instance, I’ve seen researchers giving water from a hamster-bottle to the meerkats; but they couldn’t save the baby that died pitifully in the heat???
And the horrible manipulation of us about Shakespeare … well, it has angered me, too.
I’m glad that I am not alone.
Best to all of you fellow meerkat maniacs.
DM
For the American viewers who have missed the advertising, Season Two of Meerkat Manor begins September 29th. We’ll find out what happened to Shakespeare.
Hi everyone!
Carol, they repeat the episode Sat.and Monday. Have a kleenex handy. The pups survive, but Shakespeare is missing. The last we see of him, he’s forced to fight Big Sol in the borrough to save the pups.
The hopeful news–they ended the episode with–”Next season on Meerkat Manor–What has become of courageous little Shakespeare?” Needless to say, I’ll be back here on the 4th hoping those seeing the new season will let us know! Spoilers, please. And many thanks for this site. The US Animal Planet site is hopeless.
Oh, and did anyone else want to bop Yossarian on the head for getting interested in Tosca just as she hooks up with Carlos? All this time I thought they were related, now I find he could have gone off with her and ended her loneliness the dangers she faced being alone at any time. Gotta love him, but grr arg.
Hello everyone,
Just watched a Meerkat Manor commercial on the US TV. They said that in September we will know “the key to the fate of Shakespeare”. I truly hope I am wrong, but that did not sound encouraging. The show’s producers should have been truthful in the last show and told us what happened.
And thank you, billnighy.info for letting us vent here.
I love watching these little guys. I have been searching for some information on what happened to Shakespeare. I felt he must be alive or why would they drag out our hope for him. I just read the TV highlights listed for season 2 of Meerkat Manor on the Animal Planet\’s website. It does not sound good for poor little Shakespeare. This is the link:
I found a short write-up on Season 2. It said Big Si dies, the dominant male of the Lazuli it does not say how or if it was from the fight with Shakespeare. Nothing I have found tells anything about Shakespeare other than he is presumed dead. We will have to watch. Just like MJ I will be back on the 4th hoping those of you who see it will let us know. I am in the US I will not get to see it till the 29th.
I can’t believe that a hot show such as Meerkat Manner is going to end after the first series.
They claim that the filming took place over nine years. What happened to all the film from nine years ? I vote we see all the footage. This show is a hit ? Why is it discontinued ?
And the last question, what happened to Shakespeare ?
Thanks
Dale
As you can read elsewhere on this website, Series number 2 are about to be broadcasted. :-)
Don’t worry all you viewers in the US and beyond: the minute we find out the fate of poor old Shakespeare (hopefully on 4th September in the UK), we will be straight on here to put you all out of your misery. I can’t wait to find out. It’s been a long year more or less since the end of the last series, hasn’t it?
Mel, Thank you sooo much. You are the best, as you can see we are all terribly worried about Shakespeare. I will be here Sept 4!
Thanks agian, now all we have to do is get thru the week! Animal Planet is showing lots of repeats so we will have some Meerkats to watch until then, even if they are repeats. Hang on everyone just a week to go!
Is anyone else so obsessed with MM that they are spending way too much time at work researching what happened to Shakespeare? Sheesh, I hope my boss doesn’t find out! I would love to find out what happens to the little guy just to get a little rest…
I am wondering if perhaps Shakespeare got the best of big Sy and is now the dominant make for the Lasuli lol
Not much longer to wait now!
Hello All…Include me in the “meerkat maniac” family. I have so enjoyed reading all the posts here. I too am concerned about “our little Shakespeare”, and wish with all my heart that he is alive, but if you guys have seen the promos for Season 2…there may be a clue…at the point where they talk about the “fate of Shakespeare” they show a large snake. Add that to the fact that he has not been seen in days…I am very, very afraid that he may have been badly wounded saving the lives of the pups and the his disappearance may be due to the snake they show in the promo. I hope that I am wrong, but why else would they show the snake in the promo? Evi, you have been there…is that a strong possibility?
Deidre,
I think the snake in the promo is in reference to the bite he survived at the beginning of the series – so if anything it’s to give us hope reminding us he is a survivor!
I’ve checked the German Animal Planet TV programm here, too for the whole September and here they’ll continue showing the old episodes. I still really hope they’ll show the new episodes soon.. -.-
So, if anyone knows what happened to Shakespeare, please, please let us all know asap. I really loved that little rascal and I so much hope that he’s still alive, even though I still don’t think so.
To be honest, I don’t know what to think if he really survived. I guess, then I’d be really mad with the producers for talking about the ‘loss of Shakespeare’ here in the German version of episode 13, shocking everybody, making me and I guess many others, too really depressed about his ‘death’ – just to let him reappear in the second season.
Well, anyway, let’s all hope for the best. -.-
Wow, I never would have believed that there were as many ardent Meerkat fans as there are out there..I sort of wondered if I was one of the only ones worried sick about Shakespeare. This website has been awesome and i will CERTAINLY be checking back to see the fate of my courageous Shakespeare..I cried throughout the last episode when it looked as though we’d lost him. I’ll be thinking good thoughts:) Thanks to everyone who has agreed to come on Sept. 4 and let your American counterparts know his fate!
I sure hope you’re right Katie! I have to wonder though when they say, “…clues, as to the fate of Shakespeare” it makes me wonder IF they (the researchers) even know for sure what happened to him. If he indeed just simply disappeared and his body was never found, then the snake theory makes sense. I was hoping that Evi could tell us whether or not she remembered any instances in which injured meerkats were eaten by large snakes. I am holding out hope that he survived, but given his outstanding loyalty to his family I can’t fathom him just leaving. When he was bitten by the Puff Ader he struggled to return to the family to recooperate, and seemed to depend on their support to get well. I keep telling myself that this is “life” in the Kalahari, but it doesn’t keep me from being sad about his possible demise.
Thought I would leave this URL for all my fellow meerkat lovers….http://www.meerkats.com/index.html. It is the URL for Fellow Earthlings Wildlife Sanctuary in California that takes in old, orphaned, sick, or injured meerkats and gives them a wonderful home for the remainder of there lives. The offer interactive sessions with some of their babies too. It is a great website…enjoy!
Mel, I want to thank you, ahead of time, for posting the fate of Shakespeare and the whole gang on the fourth. I have to admit, I’m a little scared to find out what happened. I just hope he is alright!!!!!!! I cried during and after that episode and had the puffiest eyes the next day. I feel sorry for you guys having to wait sooo long for a second season to start. Are you going to have the same nararrator as before? We have Sean Astin doing the show over here in the US.
I can not believe you viewers in the UK had to wait so long not knowing what happens to Shakespeare. It has only been a few weeks here in the US and alreay it seems too long to suffer.
I wonder if they will really settle the question or let it go. The review for episode 2 does call for “2 roving Whisker males” to compete for mating wites of the new leader of the Lazuli. One could be Shakespeare.
Mel, I add my thanks for your promise to put us US viewers out of our misery!
Evi says in her diary the dominant male of the Lazuli was euthanised due to tuberculosis. That would be Big Cy (Sy?—but not Sol, sorry about that!) EVI, do you know why the researchers stepped in in that instance, and not in many others? (Shakespeare’s snake bite, the deaths of Mozart’s and Daisy’s pups.)
Episode summeries at Animal Planet Canada don’t sound very encouraging about Shakespeare. Our own ads about “clues to his fate” also sound like we’ll never know for sure. I have to keep telling myself if he died, it was long ago now. Somehow I keep feeling he’s out there suffering until they actually confirm his death on tv!
Thanks again for the site. I’m so grateful I’ve become a Bill fan as a result. Fingers crossed the dvd will work on USA players, because I’d love to hear his narration–especially “Lazuli”.
I’m going to imagine that if Big Sy had TB, they would have euthanized him so as to prevent it from wiping out the entire meerkat population. In humans, TB is extremely contagious, so it stands to reason that it would be the same as animals.
Hey guys…since Big Sy surely bite Shakespeare during the fight that would have meant the Shakespeare was definitely exposed to the TB virus. In humans that are positive for exposure, but do not have active symptoms of TB, they are treated with a 9 month course of medication to prevent the virus from becoming active. Perhaps the researchers removed Shakey to treat him for the exposure. They would have had to remove him to protect the rest of the Whiskers since TB is highly contagious. Maybe, just maybe our little guy is alive and well somewhere out there…maybe in a sanctuary somewhere. Guess we will find out on the 4th, but that does give me hope again.
Looks like we see no more of Shakespeare, according to the episode guide for next season. The only thing they really say is that they aren’t sure what happened to him, which probably means he died from exposure to the TB, I would guess. Poor Shakespeare. :(
They don’t say much about Tosca and Carlos. Darnit.
Apparently Mozart is going to be causing trouble all season long. Sheesh.
I have a feeling that if Shakespeare did die or disappear, it was more likely as a result of the big fight as he didn’t come home that evening and the TB wouldn’t have killed him that quickly. Hopefully we are all wrong!
I think the episode guides are not telling us on purpose. How do we know Cy had TB when the fight happened. I wonder if they are going to tell us about Cy having TB at all? The episode guide just says Cy dies, not how or why.
All the promos for the new season mention Shakespeare so alive or dead I think (hope) they will tell us something. Something more than “he is gone, we assume he is dead”. You know the researchers saw the fight and they know what happened to him. I have to give them credit they are doing a good job of keeping it from us. . . One more day, I am counting the minutes.
Steph, you’re right.
We don’t know. Evi doesn’t mention the name of the dominant Lazuli male that had TB, and who knows which part of the ten year study they’re showing on tv. She does say Yossarian was one of the Whisker males trying to “romance” the dominant female, which is probably what made me jump to conclusions. It just didn’t sound, like someone said, Shakespeare had killed Cy. Like everyone, I’m hoping in spite of all the “bad” clues that Shakespeare is alive and Mitch truely was his temporary “stand-in” and not successor as the “courageous little” one.
Now I go back to trying to figure out the UK/US time difference so I can get back here for the news.
Hi everyone
Since I first watched MM almost a year ago now and cried my eyes out over the disappearance and possible death of Shakespeare, I haven’t looked at the TV listings or anything for the new series. I spent so much time trawling the internet after the end of the first series, to try and discover Shakespeare’s fate (hence me coming across this website!), that I just hadn’t the heart to try and find out any more. However, I finally stole myself to look at the listings for tomorrow’s episodes and I’m afraid I do fear the worst, especially when you read ahead for following episodes. I think we’ve seen the last of the dear little fellow.
Of course if I have any better news to report, I’ll be back on tomorrow evening. I’ve been trying to kid myself he was still out there somewhere, but I have a very heavy heart just now.
I am in the U.S. so I will be checking this site the morning of 9/4 for news of Shakespeare. Personally, I don’t think he’s dead. Like a drama series, they have to have a cliff-hanger so viewers will come back the following season to see what happened to their favorite character. As far as the listings for the new season, they can’t say, Season 2 Episode 1, What’s become of Shakespeare? Season 2, Episode 2, Flower eats a bug; meanwhile, Shakespeare . . . , because they would have given away the fact he’s alive so they might not get the same number of viewers. It’s hard to believe he would be mentioned in the opening credits, and have a substantial amount of attention throughout the first season, if he was going to die.
Mel
In the review for episode 2 does it call for two “Whisker Males” to try to take SI’s place maybe they will have Shakes change Mobs.
Hey guys…it is almost here…has anyone calculated the time difference between US and UK to know what time we here in the States can be onsite to hear the big news? Thanks so much to you Great Brits for letting us know!!!
Please someone email me about little shakespeare. I live in the US. My email address is jules_4209@hotmail.com
Thanks
Sorry I can’t help with the time difference – I’m hopeless! But the show is on at 1900 hrs here so I will be back on as soon after that as I can! One of our PC’s has crashed so I’ve already instructed my family that they need to leave the other one clear and why!!!! Has anybody heard the shocking news about Steve Irwin’s death? It only happened very early this morning (Brit time) and at the time the news broke, it was said his wife doesn’t even know as she is trekking in Tasmania. I just thought some of you Animal Planet fans might be interested. It’s a real shame as he has done a lot for conservation.
Not long till tonight then!!
Yer, Steve Irwins death hit me heavy, being an Australian myself, it was a real shock.
As for shakespeare, I didn’t see the epsiode showing his fate, but I asked a friend who did. He said that shakespeare is alive still but not in good shape, his sister (I forgot her name) found and looked after him, however he’s not eating and his leg is rotting…so sad. They said that there would be hope if he did eat however, I really hope he pulls through.
Shakespeare does survive the trauma to which you are referring, but the question we don’t know the answer to yet is how the first series ended: a big fight with another group or an attack by them rather. Shakespeare guarded and saved Flower’s babies, but he has disappeared seemingly without trace and as series 1 was first run almost a year ago now, it has been a long time to wait and wonder, but will we find out tonight with the beginning of the new series in the UK? Only time will tell!
Hmmm…of course, I can also imagine that they mention Shakespeare now to get as many people in front of the TV as possible, and so it could also be possible that he’s still alive – but keep in mind, that the second season was requested after the first one was such a success. I think the last episode where he disappears was orginally really supposed to be an end, a ‘new beginning’, so I really don’t think that they’ll come up with a happily running around Shakespeare or something like that in the second season.
I also really loved Shakespeare, even after a year I still mourn over his death, I drew pictures of/for him, like this little tribute, for exaple ( http://atimon.lionpaws.de/albums/album11/abg.sized.jpg , so I’d also be more than happy about seeing him alive, but I really don’t think he’s alive anymore, because in our German version they were clearly talking about the ‘loss of Shakespeare’.
But I hope, we’ll know better after today.
hi could someone please tell me
when the second series of meerkat
manor will be out on tv in the uk
i knew it was in september but not
sure which date?
Hope I have this right. My search shows London is 5 hours ahead of New York time. 1900 “Mel” time would be 7pm NY time. If they’re showing 2 episodes, it should be over 3pm NY time.
Mel, thanks again. You’re going above and beyond the call of duty keeping your computer off-limits!
I, too, think they only planned one series–as shown by the many months you all tried to get information from anyone about anything. So, leaving it at “never seen again” was their kid-viewer-friendly way of saying he was dead. Now, our evil US AP is using Shakespeare as the selling point for season 2. “Clues to the fate of Shakespeare”, as they put it, make me feel whatever happened to him was out of camera range, and they only have pieces of evidence to make a guess. Whatever happened, it doesn’t sound good. Outside the US, all episode summeries or ads seem to leave it at–the tragic loss of Shakespeare. I enjoyed the almost satiric way they made this a “reality show”, but it’s still a nature documentary, and I’m disappointed they went this route with Shakespeare’s fate.
Lastly, Steve Irwin was over-exposed here–seemed he was half of Animal Planet! But he was a great conservationiat, and this is a real loss. Odd how he “courted” death daily, but I was still shocked to hear how he died.
That sounds about right for the time! I don’t hold out much hope either I’m afraid, not now.
Good Grief!!!!! Has anybody calculated what time we will find out about Shakespeare??? I got up this morning thinking that we would know by now. Alas, nothing.
If the time that shows up on these posts is UK time, then it is approx 5pm in the UK. It is now 11 am in the US (central). so at 7pm UK it will be about 1pm US (central). Showing 2 episodes at 30 min each they will both be over at about 2pm US (central).
approx 2pm US (central) if I am doing this right.
checking time
Well, according to the computer clock, Great Britian, is in Greenwich Mean Time Zone. This includes, Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, and London. You UK folks can correct me if I’m wrong about this. But that would make it about 7pm, there, while here in the USA, it’s 2pm. So we’ll have to wait til 3pm before the shows over.
I too was grief stricken when I learned about Shakespeare possible death. When I started watching the show here, I stumbled across this site, to find that I was actually watching something that was a year old. And I then learned about the possible demise of our little buddy.
In my craving for knowledge about the little guy, a thought popped into my head. What if this reality show, wasn’t as real as we thought it would be. Meaning, yes, meerkats do the noble things we’ve seen on the show. But what if certain characters we’re made to look a certain way, to make us believe he/she was what the tv producers wanted us to see. And I’ve read most of the posts here, but not everyone, so if someone’s brought this up, plz forgive me. So I began paying very close attention to each shot, which meerkats were being shown. And I’ve found many things which prove my point. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, so I won’t post my “evidence” unless prodded. Or if you want to know more, you can email me at Machine8828@yahoo.com It’s not my main addy, but it’s one I can use for just such a purpose. Please put in the subject line, “Shakespeare”. And I’ll reply just as quickly as I can to you.
What made me think of this, was what if, the kat protecting the pups, wasn’t really shakespeare, but another meerkat, but given the name, as to make him seem to die, or give us a cliff hanger to dwell on. I have not finished my study, but I do have some very telling info. And as I discover more, I can post more. OR better yet, I can give you my info, and then you can finish and see for yourself.
I do not know what has become of Shakes. Let me make that very clear. All I can do is share my thoughts, and let you make you’re own decisions like I have done, about our hero’s fate.
I hope there are others out there refreshing every five minutes too. LOL
Every five minutes? Every ten sceonds! xD
If it was shown on 19.00h, it should be over by now.
checking time, 1st episode is over, any news?
Where’s Mellllllllllllllll…..LOL
LOL Deidre, I am doing the same thing.
You know I am wondering if maybe I shouldn’t seek some professional help for this!! LOL I am not so sure that I should be this wrapped up in a reality show, but I love those little meerkats up!!
It’s funny their AP are running the US shakes snake bite episode at the same time season 2 is showing in the UK
Me, four! Think we can qualify for group therapy? Mel must be glued to the tv–as we would be. But at 3:01……..
Nah, don’t worry, I feel the same way. I guess I am really crazy about those animals, no matter what.
Has anyone heard of those poor zoo creatures in Minnesota? That still makes me angry sooo much! >:( And on the other hand I haven’t forgotten about Shakespeare during the last year, too – so, you’re not the only one who’s getting into things too deep. ;)
Oops–5! Walter, I just got here because I had to watch that repeat again.
Has anyone else noticed the markings on the shakespeare that was bitten by the snake are not the same as the meerkat that picks up mitch. Snake bite shakes has a dark spot on left hindleg and front left leg. shakes that picks up mitch has only mark on hindleg and lower midsection.
Snake bite was on face and hind leg so that is not the answer.
Well, here I am, having evicted my husband from the only working PC!
The news as at the end of episode 2 is not good, I am afraid. The new series starts 2 months after the attack and it states that Shakespeare has not been since the fight and that they are almost certain he was fatally injured after protecting the pups and died underground. I suppose they just didn’t find his body. As for Big Cy, it didn’t say from what he dies, just that shortly after the fight, he becomes seriously ill and dies. Another piece of sad news is that Tosca also disappeared during the depths of winter, presumed dead as it was unlikely she could have survived the cold alone. Poor Tosca!
The reason they show the snake in the trails is that one cape cobra takes up residence in the Whiskers’ burrow towards the end of episode 2. However, no one is harmed. They are forecasting a big showdown between 2 rival groups in episode b3, with tragic consequences.
Bill Nighy has a new phrase to make us smile now too: it’s now the “Lazuli ladis”. There is also a new roving male on the scene called Grog and competition to take over the Lazuli is also rife!
So it looks like our suspicions were well founded unless some miracle happens, which I can’t see somehow.
Thanks, Mel. I’m off to have a little cry. Here’s hoping they’re wrong about Tosca.
Thanks so much Mel…what was the big hype about the “key” to Shakespeare’s fate? Did they say?
Even though it still saddens me to hear about Shakespeare don’t showing up again and being dead now for sure, I am the more shocked about hearing that Tosca died. Poor creature. Being thrown out of the family and then dying all alone. Poor little thing.. -.-
I guess, I’ll draw her a picture, soon, too. -.-
Anyway, thanks for the information, Mel.
Oops, the new expression is of course “Lazuli ladies”
They didn’t mention Shakespeare’s fate or even Shakespeare at all after the initial introduction of about the tragedy of his disappearance. I guess that was just media hype to keep us all watching!
Also Mel…did Carlos disappear too?
Yes, I really cannot understand how Tosca could be dead now when two males were interested in her… I cannot believe this.. :( It sounded like such a good new start for her in contrast to her brother at the end of season one… -.-
Carlos wasn’t mentioned at all. Only the big new male, Grog. The ones who went foraging around the aazuli after the ladies were Youssarian (of course!), another Whiskers member, Big Will and little Mitch, the supposed Shakespeare replacement. The only one to get lucky so far was Big Will but not with the dominant female, just one of the subordinates and out of the watchful eye of the other Lazuli males!
You know guys…maybe crazy but I am really rather angry with the producers. I wonder if there is any way to email the head researcher of the Kalahari project to find out what really happened outside the “ratings arena.” I too have a hard time believing that Tosca and Carlos just disappeared as well. Anyone else feel this way?
Deidre – The official site mentions contacting Tim Clutton-Brock regarding filming the meerkats: thcb@cam.ac.uk
If he can’t give you an answer perhaps he can direct you to the person who can.
I think the trouble about Tosca is that even if she had produced pups after the mating with Carlos or whoever, unless she was part of a large family group, she would never have been able to raise them, even if Carlos or whoever had stuck around. Remember when the Whiskers became separated that time, how difficult it was for a much bigger group than 2 (I can’t remember but was it about 6 or 7?) almost did not manage to forage enough food to feed themselves and the then babies? I am not really surprised Tosca disappeared as I think you need more than 2 meerkats to survive. I mean, somebody has to babysit them while the family goes out foraging? So that would have left one to look after the babies, one to find food for all of them. I can’t remember where Carlos came from, was he from the Lazuli? If so, he may still be around but just hasn’t made his presence felt yet! I suppose again we will have to wait and see.
Okay guys….I am on a mission now…let me see what I can find out…Thanks Fay…yes Clutton-Brock appears to be the head of it, so I am going to give it a try. I will certainly keep you guys posted.
It has certainly been a very sad day…along with the confirmation of the death of our Little Shakespeare, now Tosca, and the tragic loss of one of the animal kingdoms greatest friends…Steve Irwin…I will certainly be glad when today is over. I guess God had an unruly croc in heaven that needed to be captured. Here’s to a Legend who will certainly be missed by all!!
“Disappearance”, I guess they don’t watch all of them all the time, if they get out of the “Whiskers Group” they don’t necessarily follow them, there are other groups of meerkats out there, that are not being observed, we only know about them when they come into contact with Whiskers, Tosca’s “dissapearance” may only be that she no longer hangs around the Whiskers. Since they only follow Whiskers they call it disappearance, and she is no longer in the loop. She and Carlos may have hooked up and are starting their own group, or joined another group the researchers don’t follow?? They don’t actually say they found her dead, do they? It would be great if we could think the same of Shakespeare, he just moved on, if he lost the Whiskers he maybe a roving male. Once again “disappearance”. They don’t actually say they found him dead, do they?
I am sad:( really hoping to hear good news of Shakespeare and Tosca. Kind of strange they don’t know for sure, having cameras all over the place. I am like you if they know they should tell us. Insted of “dissappearance”
Deidre I hope you find some info from Clutton, I cannot get the weblink to open, let me know if I can help you.
I can’t believe how intrigued I am about this show. My husband makes fun of me because of how addicted I am. I really hoped that Shakespeare would have been alright.
I have read that there are (were) 5 Mobs in the area that the project was studying. Each dominate male or female had the radio color so they can find them, but even knowing this it is a hash existence 1 of 4 pups dies in the first few weeks and the adults 1 in 2 during the best of times.
I don’t think they expected to have a second season thus the two month gap, they propablely needed to go back for more footage.
Walter, I have also noticed different markings on Shakespeare. Some of those spots are very noticeable and then at other times they are not there. So many unanswered questions about Shakespeare. (sigh)
Has anyone learned if the UK DVDs will work in the US? I’d love to get Bill Nighy’s version.
Walter you are right. The first series ended perfectly to end the show. Courageous Shakespeare dies defending the pups.
The pups are safe.
Tosca finds a friend in Carlos.
Flower and the group move on…Life goes on in the desert.
It was the success of the show that sprouted the second series and they had to get more footage to put another story together.
They probably don’t know what happened to Tosca, if she went off on her own or with Carlos she (they) were no longer part of one of the 5 mobs (although Carlos was Lazuli, the above post says he was not seen or mentioned in the 2 new shows, so it stands to reason he kept roving or stayed with Tosca and did not return to the Lazuli group) so they did not keep track of her (them). And you are right it is harsh, a bird or anything could have gotten them, and the researchers would not know since she was no longer in one of the groups. So disappearance is the word for Tosca.
But Shakespeare. Disappearance leaves it open to “he may still be alive”. I would think they would know what happened to Shakespeare. They had a camera on the entrance. . .Did Shakespeare come out of the burrow after the fight? If he did not come out of the burrow then he obviously died underground.
What do you think?
Am I thinking too much? You would think I would have something better to do. Thanks for all of you who are talking meerkat, it is nice to know others care.
Steph, a possible answer is that the entrance camera could have moved around to capture the huge fight and thus missed Shakespeare’s exit(if they move). Or if so many of the Whiskers and Lazuli were all around the entrance area, maybe they missed him coming out. Or at least that is what I hope happened. But then, where did he go?
i totally agree with u steph tosca and carlos have gone off or maybe carlos has left tosca looking for anothe mate but
tosca “may” be shown in meerkat manor again i hope so
and shakespeare has either died a hero defending
his brothers and sisters or is still a hero and
is alive.
Steph
We will never find out what happened because we do not really know how the stories are put together. The production company (Oxford ……) was down there in 2005 to film and I do not know how long they were onsite. I got this timeline from the research project’s website. I find it interesting that they started showing the programs in the UK the same year.
It would be very interesting to find out how the program was planed and executed. Were story lines outlined before, after and/or during filming? They must have had some idea what they were going to present in the 13 episodes just to get a budget approved.
I guess what I am trying to say is what you see is not always what really happened (look at our president G.B. …. Opps sorry) you US or UK?
How this…. Shakes died from the snake bite. Shakes lived through the Lazuli attack (real or not). We have no way of knowing which happened first. They assemble the shows, I am sure, to give the most interesting storyline. Case in point Animal Plant has video clips you can see online, For the most part each is a stand alone story, (Save Mitch, Snake bite, Don’t mess with Mom, etc.). So if Shakespeare was not so easy to identify I am sure they could have found another stand in actor Meerkat…maybe that is why they left it open (I hope)
Yes I know I analysis things too much.
That’s what I’ve always wondered. How on earth do they tell all those meerkats apart. If they didn’t mention a name I wouldn’t even know who it was. Except for Flower of course because of her collar.
I watch this show in the US. I, too, am addicted! Let me chime in on a few things. TB is not spread thru a bite, it is a respiratory air-borne illness. The cattle you see in the show are affected with the bacteria, and when they sneeze the bacteria become airborne. The meerkats and other susceptible animals inhale the bacteria and may become infected. I used to work in a TB diagnostic lab, so I am sure of the transmission. The black marks you see on some of the meerkats are made by the researchers. The meerkats are part of a huge research project, so they must be weighed, have blood samples taken from them, have their teeth checked, etc., on a periodic basis. The meerkats are then ‘marked’ so the reserachers know to test them again at the appropriate times. The show encompasses many seasons of footage, and each episode may not depict events occurring in the same year. The show was an amalgam of life eperiences, depicting life throughout several seasons. It was the show’s trememdous and unexpected success that lead to the second season and possibly a third. You can find additional information about the various mobs on an Earthwatch website. Tim Clutton-Brock is a meerkat expert. About one month ago a report appeared in Science, authored by two Cambridge reserachers. Entitled “Cute meerkats actually vicious baby killers” the Kalahari mobs were observed to do exactly that – kill the babies of their rivals. So you see, the meerkats are really scientific stars, contributing much information to the world of animal behavior and biology. Enough of the serious stuff!
Please God, let CL Shakespeare live! But I fear that he is gone. The last episode featured Mitch, doing all of the things Shakespeare would have done if he were around. The point was made that Mitch had been tutored by CL Shakespeare, almost easing the viewer into the knowledge that we would not see him again. But the ads for the new season tell us that we will know the fate of Shakespeare! Perhaps he will appear in later episodes. I cannot believe that Tosca dies. She was my favorite. Remember when she briefly lead the splinter group? She showed real skill, courage and leadership. I thought Flower should have let her back into the group and groomed her to be her successor and take over the Whiskers – Flower can’t live forever! I do wish that the researchers would put together a show about the meerkats, devoid of the anthropomorphism. I would like to know more about the familes, how a female becomes the dominant one, how she chooses her mate, if every member of the mob is related and how so on. How long do they live, what diseases are they affected by. I would like a little more science. But I do love them, and I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I could be so wrapped up in furry little space alien-looking creatures.
Please, UK viewers, let us US viewers know what happens. Our season 2 doesn’t begin until 9/29/06.
I also noticed that Shakespeare looked different now and then. With over 40 of them, how can they be sure who is who? As for the camera at the burrow entrance, with so many around the burrow maybe Shakespeare slipped out. Or maybe the camera moved to get a better shot of the Whiskers vs. Lazuli fight and didn’t catch Shakespeare leaving. But then, where did Shakespeare go and if so, why didn’t he return? Yes, I’m over analyzing, too. :)
A Few of the Whisker Family Markings that I’ve noticed:
Flower: radio collar
Tosca: Has two black spots right at the base of her tail
Zaphod: Large Male with thick chin, has multiple old fading scars, and he has a dark spot on his left flank
Shakespeare: Has pale stripes except for the ones in the middle of his back where they’re more distinct, dark splotch on left shoulder and left hip/thigh area. He also has a large spot on his left rear leg & a smaller spot on his left midsection. The camera angels are sometimes reversed so the spots look different they also look different when he goes from a sitting position to standing position.
Yossarian: Has a long scar above left eye. Sometimes, as mentioned under Shakespeare, the camera crew use reverse angles so sometimes it will look like it is above the right eye.
Anyone notice any other markings on the meerkats in the Whisker family or other meerkats on Meerkat Manor? Please share your observations.
I hope and pray that Shakespeare is okay. He’s my favorite meerkat.
I’m so glad that I am not the only one that is totally in love with these little animals. I have cried and fretted over poor little Shakespeare since the ending a couple of weeks ago.
I refuse to believe Shakespeare or Tosca are no longer with us. I believe that they have separated from the Whiskers and are happily munching on grubs and grooming each other. :)
Walter you are right, the show is probably made up of random footage and they are putting a story to it. That makes sense, you really can’t tell who is who or when is when. And you are right “Snake Bite Shakespeare” has very different markings from “Big Brother saves Mitch Shakespeare”.
And we are not seeing alot of the “real” stuff, with all those preditors around.
They are making a story for us. And Shakespeare fighting to the death for the pups is courageous, we love a hero, like any good soap opera.
It is a wonderful show, with drama, caring, etc. all the things they say in the opening credits, and they are SO CUTE.
Meerkats obviously have a “family” lifestyle and it is fun to watch, and nice to make them kinda “human”, but “nature” happens and they keep moving on.
I suppose if we keep morning the “loss” of Shakespeare maybe a meerkat will show up and it will be “Shakespeare Returns” or a “There is Tosca”, we will not know the difference and we will all be happy again, lets hope so.
What do you guys think?
Thanks to all of you who are “wrapped up” as I am in this, some people I know are like “who cares” they are just animals. We care.
I apologize about the duplicate posts on the same subjects. When checking the site last night at home, my earlier posts did not show up on my computer. I’m not crazy, really. :)
Atimon, that’s a lovely drawing you did of Shakespeare! I hope you’ll post one of Tosca for us.
I read that the researchers put those dark markings on the meerkats to tell them apart. When I checked the show after reading Walter’s post, I saw they had taken “dramatic license” with the series. When I railed to my sister that a nature show should stick to the facts, she said, “Imagine how the researchers feel.” Working in the heat, the cold, etc. to give us information no one else has ever had, and the producers “tweek” it to create a cliff-hanger. I think I wouldn’t have been so upset if they hadn’t left us hanging about Shakespeare. Oh, well, I love the series anyway.
The new cliff-hanger–will Deidre’s mission be successful…….
And one more big thank you to Mel for quickly putting us out of our misery. Even though we were then miserable.
Here is a link to a very interesting and informative website -I hope it works! http://www.pangolin.li/travel_sites/RSA_Namibia_Sep05/meerkats.html
If it doesn’t work, just goggle ‘Earthwatch and meerkats’ amd you will find the link. Have fun!
I tend to agree with the idea that we truly DON”T see a lot of the real life events with the predators. For instance, at one point it said that meerkats gestate for approximately 90 days, and have anywhere from 5-7 pups. At that rate, if predators did NOT keep the meerkat population down, the entire world would be overrun with meerkats..not that I think that’s a bad thing;)
Well, I never checked if the markings were always the same when they’ve talked about Shakespeare, Tosca, Mozart & the others either.
I also somehow always thought that they just took those scenes they’ve filmed that fit into their self-made storyline and that was it. I mean, they did not expect their series to be that successful, because the second season wasn’t planned at all and so I also think no one of them expected someone watching the show, comparing the markings of every ‘Shakespeare’ they showed etc..
I am not quite sure, but they also repeated several underground scenes and in some scenes they were clearly talking about Flower or another female and you could clearly see it was a male that went through the tunnels, so that would be another proof that they just took the scenes that ust fit the storyline. Besides, is it just me, or did the pups Flower looks for underground after the attack looked much younger than those at the beginning of the episode before Shakespeare died? Would be another proof then..
If it really was Shakespeare down there protecting the pups, I really hope, he’s still alive somewhere or he died quickly and didn’t suffer.. -.- I am also quite angry about the fact that it seems like they just don’t want to tell us what happened to him.
Dixie, I see your point. No one cares about the antilopes being eaten in every documentary about lions etc. either. But to be honest, even as a child I already felt sorry for them. And so the more it saddens me, when an animal has to die, no matter if it was a meerkat or a zebra. Of course, that’s all part of life, eat and being eaten, but, well, still life can be very cruel sometimes.. :( And I think especially meerkats are so cute animals, every single one dying is kind of sad for me and I mourn over them.
MJ, thank you very much for the compliment. I drew this picture right after I’ve seen the last episode. I sat over my drawing block, drawing this picture and cried.
I’ve also drawn a few pictures of the other meerkats, because that series just fascinated me so much, but in a more cartoony but still rl-style.
Here’s one of Zaphod and Kolumbus ( http://atimon.lionpaws.de/albums/album11/abi.sized.jpg ) and this one here features pregnant flower catching some food ( http://atimon.lionpaws.de/albums/album11/abk.sized.jpg )
I am planning to do a new one of Tosca because I am still quite shocked about the fact that she should be dead now, too. -.-
..And now we can talk again about who is getting too much into things and who’s not. ;)
hi every one here ! im gage! I loooooooove meerkat mana!!!!!
I luv it so much i wunda what life would be as a meerkat!!! im jumpin fo joy that shakespeares alive cuz i loooove him! could any on tell me any shops where i can get the meerkat manor DVD in adelaide? imaussie AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!! GO WHISKERS! BOO LAZULI! all the lazuli do is get their asses kicked by the Whiskers.Anyone with me? P.s im using a friends network cuz i dont have internet and i cant remeber my school password! Carlos is EVIL!!! I agree on that last bit ,Dixie. Damn the puff adder that bit shakespeare!!! i love meerkats soo much i want a pet meerkat!!!! im turnin 10 soon. see ya everyone!
The Los Angeles Times ran an article on the show after the fifth episode, which I kept. The article states, in several places, the show is “unscripted,” though the editors do insert some out-of-context reaction shots for effect. “Though we say it’s a soap opera with fur, these are not stories we’re making up; this is really what’s happening.” It also states that Oxford Scientific Films is negotiating for a feature film. It also says the show is intended for parents and children 2 to 6, and is edited to excise scenes of extreme brutality or mating behavior. Then it says, “If the worst should happen, characters will be allowed to die off as the animals do. They won’t be replaced with new meerkats stepping in with the same names. We could never do that. Each one has such a personality. Each time a new character is revealed, they have such interesting quirks.”
Fay
What brought up the subject of substitution for characters in the article only 5 episodes into the season? Does the article Say.
Wow, that’s interesting and I had thought along those lines myself. I also meant to say I don’t think Shakespeare would have wandered off by himself. When they talk about roving males, they never mean actual lone males who live alone because meerkats don’t fare well by themselves, do they? They need somebody to keep watch for predators and enemies while they forage, need others to groom them to keep down insect infestations, plus for body temperature at night. The roving males are those who just think it’s a bit of fun to clear off during the day, thinking their family won’t notice, and take their bit of fun – if they are lucky – with girls from other groups, because of course they aren’t allowed to mate within their own; dare I say it … men being men and all that!
PS I’d have thought the show a bit advanced for kids from 2-6 mind you? Mine enjoy watching it and they are almost 14 and 9. And so do we all enjoy it of course, so what does that say about our mentality? Only joking!!
That is great that article says, they know who is who and when is when, all this is really happening as it shows, they all have a personality and if “the worst” should happen they will just die off like on a soap opera. Thats means they know! If they are recording them as individuals, each ones life and death – then they would have recorded Shakespeares and Toscas actual fate, right?
We know they know – I wish they would please tell us if Shakespeare came out of the burrow, tell us if he is dead. They don’t have to show us anything brutal, just tell us, insted of just disappeared, same for Tosca.
I am excited to find out the show is unscripted, and is not random film clips put together to make a show, that means hopefully we might actually find out what really happened to them.
I love the show, my 7 year old son won’t let me miss an episode, actually its me who won’t let him miss one:) I can’t wait for Sept 29. Thanks Mel for keeping us informed.
Well, I don’t want to be argumentative, however, the information about the show not being scripted is entirely accurate. In this article from the NY Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/science/18side.html?ex=1310875200&en=3a8c76a66f116525&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Tim Clutton-Brock, states that the researchers do not have control of the show, however he does look at the “scripts” and makes sure the meerkats aren’t turned into furry little humans with scent glands.
(Read the article, there are some funny tidbits in it!)
I’ll agree that we are seeing real events of meerkats, but I do wonder how much emphasis is placed on certain events, to imply to us (the viewers) about a story line or character in a storyline.
It still doesn’t make it any easier knowing (as Mel reported) about Shakespeare’s dissappearance, and Tosca’s as well. And as much as I’d love to see him (Shakes) reappear in a future episode, if it did happen, one could only assume that there were bigger things happening, “behind the scenes” to appease the audiance. I’ve already seen, not so much on this forum, but on others, a real negative reaction to the idea that Shakes is gone forever. To the point of people saying they wouldn’t watch any longer. To me that’s getting a little carried away. I mean I love the little guy too, but ya know it’s nature, it’s the real world out there. And it isn’t easy for something 12 inches high, and weighing 2 lbs. (Although, I also find it tough to swallow, that he was bitten by a snake, and survived, but one scrap with another kat, and he dies?) Yeah Yeah, I know Big Cy was a dominate male, etc… But still, you catch my drift.
Anyway, that’s my unimportant 2 cents.
I know I can’t wait to see the new episode myself. I love the meerkats. I still can’t believe how obsessed I am about this show and these little animals.
Haven’t been here for a long time, but it seems things didn’t turn to the good – but thanks, Mel, for letting us know. I’ll get the DVD with the first episode next week and am looking forward to finally seeing Meerkat Manor – and seeing the whiskers gang again!
I think I was with the meerkats just between the times the two episodes were filmed – after all, I did meet Flower, Youssarian – and also Tosca, I do remember her name!
I agree that the producers might know more about Shakespeare if they filmed the fight (who’d go home after this without waiting for him to come up again?) – but it can well be that Tosca disappeared in the months between the episodes were filmed.
The researchers don’t follow all the meerkat groups all days – some groups are alone for days before the next researcher comes to find them again. Therefore it really happens that meerkats disappear. If a female upsets the boss (e.g. by getting pregnant), she’ll get chased away – which is one of the nastier things, probably belonging to the category “scenes of extreme brutality” mentioned above. Chances that a single meerkat joins another group are not big, as she/he will be chased away. So if a female is forced to leave her group, she tends to stay close and try sneak back home again – keeping a very low profile to make the others accept her again. If this doesn’t work (e.g. because she’s still pregnant), things don’t look good, as meerkats are really not made for living on their own :-(
But anyway, let’s see what happens next Monday… Atimon, when/where is MM shown in Germany?
PS: If you happen to come across a glossy magazine called Africa Geographic, buy the current issue – there’s a nice article on meerkat play-fighting with beautiful pics in there…
Evi, I’ve already sent a mail to the german Animal Planet and they told me that they aren’t sure yet, because they haven’t got the material yet and then it needs to be translated into german etc….so it doesn’t look too good. Obviously end of this year, beginning of next year is what they told me.. -.-
I’ve also checked the AP-program and we have the old episodes here for sure to the middle of october, but I guess even longer, because their online program is always only for a month.
I am quite mad about his fact. We have been one of the first with the first season here before it was sent elsewhere and now we have to wait the longest. And I so much wanted to see the show asap, too.. -.-
Evi, I guess you are right about the researchers not seeing some of the groups for days. They said about Shakespeare that he was “almost certainly” dead or rather, he had “almost certainly” died as a result of the fight, so I do believe they really can’t say 100%, though they were a bit naughty in leaving it open into the next series, having us believe that he might return, but that’s the media for you. I can’t see how Tosca could have survived either and they said she is presumed to have died during the winter months while alone, poor little thing.
Amazon UK has moved the DVD date to October 9th. I’m wondering if maybe they’re going to release both seasons together? Isn’t the new series shorter than the first?
I know the series people didn’t write a story and then find clips to match–like a Disney film. But they did choose a point of view–i.e., Whishers, good guys, Lazuli–boo, hiss. The evil Lazuli tried to kill Flower’s pups and did get Shakespeare. The Whiskers previously tried to dig out and kill the Lazuli pups, who were alone with no Shakespeare who could have saved them. That was tense, but they actually made ended it in an almost humorous way with the Lazuli male trying to sneak over to “woo” Flower and poor Zaphod in a panic trying to find her.
In the first episode, Shakespeare saves Mitch’s life when the irresponsible teens steal him for a bit of play and then abandon him. In the last episode,Mitch, who’d been a bully as a teen, matures to become the new hero–right down to saving a misplaced pup. They even reply the scene with Shakespears saving him. I was in tears at this. Then, as Walter pointed out, that wasn’t Shakespeare finding Mitch (if that was Mitch). I don’t doubt for a second that Shakespeare saved many more pups than the 4 he died for, so I’m fine with that. What bothered me was, once they saw what a hit Shakespeare was (and this seemed to happen sometime halfway through the USA showing–a few months into your letter-writing campaign), they used him as the come-on for the next season. As has been said, the original non-US series ended kindlier. Saying Shakepeare was never seen again was a gentle way of saying he was dead–or letting you pretend he wasn’t! And they left you with a nice ending for Tosca, though in fact, as was also said, from the episode when the Whisker group split, it was clear the odds were against her. So, I hate that they 1. wouldn’t just tell those of you who wrote to ask what happened to Shakespeare and, 2. they chose to use what for we-silly or not– Shakespeare fans was a true emotional connection and make it an ad campaign. Being one of you– completely hooked on Meerkat Manor–I just felt a little betrayed by the tv people.
Of course, without them, we’d never have known the Whiskers, so I’ll leave it at that! MEL, is Columbus in the new series?? I loved that he had his own Indiana Jones type theme music.
MJ, as far as I can remember Columbus hasn’t been mentioned so far but I will keep a watch out for him and let you know if you like.
I feel the media haven’t been quite so unkind in the UK as from what I briefly saw of ads for the shows on Animal Planet, they didn’t play on the fate of Shakespeare. The new series just opened by saying that it was 2 months later or 2 months had passed since the fight when tragedy had struck, then about the almost certain death of Shakespeare. It’s still sad to think of him ending up like that after all his stalwart efforts to help everybody.
You are right as I think there are only 9 episodes in the second series.
Check the Animal Planet – UK website. It lists 13 episodes for season 2.
If you are correct about Shakespeare and Tosca then I am very disappointed in they way the series was constructed. If they hadn’t made the meerkats so ‘human’ we humnas would not have become so addicted and their passing wouldn’t have hurt so much!
I suppose that waas kind of the whole point of the series, they advertised it as a soap, didn’t they? In any of these documentaries where they study the animals for a length of time and name them, it always seems worse if any of them die. “Monkey Business” is another case in point if any of you watch that?
Yes, I just checked the listings in the UK and there are indeed 13 and it looks like there will be another dramatic ending and lots of heartache along the way.
Columbus has the potential to become my favorite, after Shakespeare..he’s an intrepid little explorer and I was delighted with his name. I hope that further tragedies don’t pertain to him, or I maye have to give up watching, just for the sake of my emotional well being:(
Same here. Besides Shakespeare, Tosca, Flower and Zaphod were and still are my favourites. I hope nothing will happen to Flower and her mate, losing Shakes and Tosca was bad enough, I’m still down because of their ‘deaths’. If something happens to my remaining favs, I won’t be able to watch the show either, I am afraid..
I was thinking maybe the US version will give us different information. I know the “shows” will be the same the narriation maybe different, since it is different narriators, it was read twice, maybe the scripts are different for the US shows. And since the US is heavily advertising “the fate of Shakespeare” they might tell us something more, maybe? hopefully? Just wishful thinking probably, but you never know. New Series premiers in the US on Sept. 29. What do you think? maybe?
Like Atimon and Dixie, I am not sure how much “dissapparance” I can handle. It’s tough. I love those little guys.
Guys I agree, as soon as the main characters had names it personalized the show unlike watching a documentary.
Animal plant has clips from MM, they include both narrators and the scripts appear to be the same.
I know Deidre was going to try and get some answers from Cambridge University. I decided to see if I could get a response from Oxford Scientific Films about Shakespeare and Tosca, and just e-mailed them. Since they were the ones filming the show it seems reasonable that they would know what happened to our “disappeared” meerkats. If I get an answer I will be sure to post it here.
Mel, anyone
Any interesting news in episode 3, if it was on today well yesterday (Monday)
Hi folks
I watched episodes 3 and 4 last night. A storm is brewing – quite literally in weather terms but also within the group. Let me start from the beginning, though I won’t go into a lot of detail and spoil it for you.
There was the introduction of the “neighbours from hell” last night in the form of another meerkat group, the Commandoes. They raided the Lazuli camp while they were out foraging. One of the 2 remaining pups (offspring of Big Cy) were at home with a young baby sitter, Marilyn. One of the pups (Bubble as they were named Bubble and Squeak) was killed by the dominant female of the Commandoes and Marilyn was injured.
As for the Whiskers: life has been going on much the same as ever and Columbus is still very much in evidence by the way. Then there is the return of a familiar scallywag: Carlos. He goes sniffing after Mozart, who is trying to keep in her mother’s good books as Flower is pregnant again and as the oldest of the females, Mozart would be the most likely one to be evicted, especially after her past track record. Mozart runs away from Carlos’ advances but … straight into the arms of his granddad, Stinker! When she gets home later, Flower smells the scent of another male on her and bites the root of her tail in warning.
There is a big storm brewing at the end and the ominous inference from the narrator that Mozart’s fate is also about to be sealed!
Mel
Thanks for the update. Glad to see Colubus still in the show.
Are they going to continue to show two episodes a week in the UK.
Reading the write-ups for 5 and 6 sounds like Mozart gets evicted
Episode 5: Four weeks have passed and Mozart has been evicted from the Whiskers by Flower. Her fight for survival is made harder as she is now pregnant.
Episode 6: Mozart’s eviction from the Whiskers continues, but she’s not the only one facing tragedy. Flower and the pups end up in a fight for their lives.
They mention Mozart in Episode 6’s write-up so we know she makes it thru the next 2 episodes, she is not gone yet.
The tragedy episode 3 spoke of must have been the baby Bubbles, and the raid on the Lazuli (notice we are learning the names of individual Lazuli other than the dominants, Marilyn, Bubbles, Squeak, and we knew Carlos)
I am happy and sad to hear Carlos return, as I am glad he is ok, but it pretty much tells us Tosca’s fate.
Happy too for Columbus, he is a cutie!
Thanks so much Mel, I was anxiously waiting on you yesterday.
Have a great day, everybody!
I don’t know if they are going to continue showing 2 episodes a week here in the UK – who knows? – but I suspect that as they have done so the past 2 weeks, they have allowed for this in their scheduling, so we will wait and see and also what the tragedy is when Flower and co have to fight for their lives – I don’t know if my nerves can stand it!
Thank yall so much for posting this–I, too, was eagerly checking back several times a say yesterday to see if anything had been posted. I can’t wait till it is back on here, I feel a little forlorn on Friday nights without my furry little whiskered friends.
The first series is out on DVD in the UK, Europe, etc.. Not in the US. I tried to get it but cannot find anywhere to buy who will send to the US. I have a multi-region DVD player, but no way to get it. I went to ebay and it is selling for $60.00+. Is that a fair amount? What does anyone know the UK cost?
Thanks everyone!
sorry my last line, I ment to say. Does anyone know the UK cost?
I’m in the US and have the UK DVDs on pre-order from Amazon.co.uk. Although I suspect that they “forgot” to update me that release date is now listed as Oct 9, instead of the Sept 4 I was given when I pre-ordered… guess won’t arrive in time to be that birthday present for someone.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meerkat-Manor/dp/B000H5U7EC
The publishers’ site seems to list that they are expecting more stock come Sept 25.
http://www.greenumbrellashop.co.uk/acatalog/Home_Page_Meerkat_Manor__DVD__2383.html
I’ve checked the price on play.com, from where I buy most of my DVD’s etc (as it’s cheap and post free!) and they are selling it for £23.99. I’m not sure how this equates to dollars really. They reckon the recommended retail price is £30. I don’t know if this helps?
hi, i just got this from the people who actually film the meerkats check it out
Dear Jordan,
Tim Clutton-Brock passed your e-mail about Tosca and Shakespeare on to me. Shakespeare recovered from the snake bite but then left Whiskers during the filming of meerkat manor 1 (male meerkats leave their group when they are adult and look for groups of their own). We don’t know what happened to him, as he left the study site, but it quite likely that he is now dominant in a group of his own somewhere. As for Tosca, she is still a subordinate females in whiskers.
I hope that answers your questions!
Best wishes
Sarah
I don’t quite know what to make of that lot. There has certainly been no mention of Tosca in series 2 so far and look how hard she tried to get back in so many times and was never accepted. I am sorry but I take this info with a large packet of salt!
Same here…and that Shakespeare theory… could be ture, but after what we’ve seen so far, for example how much he cared for his family, especially the babies, still defended them even when the alpha male attacked him, I have many doubts by imagining him leaving his family just like that – and even if that was right, I think it is quite unfair to tell the audience – who really was and still is into this series, just read through all those comments here – he died and that all alone and in a terrible way. Then they could have been honest with us and all this fuss about his ‘fate’ wouldn’t have been necessary.
Jordan, that is great news of Tosca and Shakespeare, I hope it is true.
Do you think they will tell the viewers that Shakespeare survived the fight and left of his own accord? Reading Jordan’s email sounds like he left the Whiskers of his own accord during the 1st series, after he recovered from the snake bite. She does not mention the fight with Cy. Maybe he left after the snake bite and this would explain the different markings Walter noticed on Shakespeare from one episode to another? Maybe he moved on after the snake bite and they used a stand-in for the rest of the show??
Tosca, maybe she comes back after the filming/research was over? Again do you think they will tell the viewers that she is back and alive.
From what I understand they open the 2nd season with Shakespeare is probably dead and Tosca is probably dead.
Maybe at the end of the 2nd season they will tell us the actual story and where all our characters are/where when the research was completed. Is the research complete?
They say at the beginning the cameras are on them 24 hours a day 24/7 and then I understand the researchers only see them every few days. Tosca is gone for 2 months from series 1 to series 2 but now she is still in the group. Shakespeare survived the snake bite and left of his own accord before he got into a big fight with Cy?
I am confused, but I am hanging in there.
What are others thinking of Jordans response?
Ok, I am WAAAAY confused. Shakespeare was bitten by the snake, we know..but we also know that Shakespeare was with the family and defended them against Big Cy. However, there is no mention of Cy within this email. We have two options–either this is a standard issue email written long before season2, or he didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. That is all I can figure, but I admit, it is 1:30 in the morning here so i may be missing something.
Well what do you know? IS this true or feel good news.
Sarah doesn’t say what they did to substitute appearances of Shakes after the snakebite. We know the marks on him appeared different, but she stops short of saying it was not him in the final two episodes. I do not have tapes of those episodes to compare yet.
Animal planet is running the entire first season on the 28th as a lead in for the new season on the 29th. It will be interesting to compare.
She is not saying he survived the fight she is saying he was not there, which means:
a. Who saved the split Whiskers group at the waterhole
b. Who picked up Columbus and brought him home.
c. Who was with the pups.
d. Did the attack at the borough even happen or was it fabricated to make a good ending with a hook for the next Season.
Please note the last episode of the second season is an attack by the Commandoes on Mozart and her pups “what will happen”.
Jordan
Who are Tim Clutton-Brook and Sarah. Is Tim with the filming company and Sarah with the Research do we know?
The above said it would be nice if it were true.
Jordan, why are you asking this question? You are the one telling us what they said, surely you know to whom you wrote …?
Mel
317 and 318 are mine.
Walt
Ooh, sorry Walter, it was too early in the morning obviously! It would be nice to have this Sarah’s email address. I hate to be cynical, but somewhere along the lines, things don’t add up. On the one hand they are saying that they wouldn’t lie to us if any of the meerkats died, or indeed wouldn’t replace them either; on the other, it looks like they may have done both!
I have a feeling we may be forced to face the fact that we will truly never really know the truth!
Mel
It very is interesting that Sarah would give out this information if she works for Oxford. More likely she is part of the research team. I can imagine Oxford just pasted off the question to the Cambridge team because they simply do not know or are tried of viewers asking. But you are right what they say does not add up with what they are showing on TV.
I haven’t received a response to the message I sent to Oxford Scientific, so I just e-mailed all our questions to the author of the L.A. Times article. Hopefully she was actually in touch with the people involved and not just quoting from a press release.
I got a quick response from my inquiry to the L.A. Times. Here it is:
“Thank you for writing! It looks to me like a follow up article is clearly called for….Let’s get to the bottom of this!”
Well, it looks like we finally have someone who can get us some straight answers!
Seems like Walter was right the first time. The show is made up of random film clips put together to make a story for us. I am anxious to here LA Times follow-up. Sounds like what’s “happening” in the show is not what actually happened, just a good story.
I don’t think the film really is just randomly made up, though I don’t know any more than anyone else of course, so it’s only a guess. Although they have been studying them for 10 years, I think the TV crew only went to film them recently, say in about 2005? The study they are talking about more involved observing them: who comes out the burrow, where they go, which they keep track of with the radio collared dominant females, etc. They also investigate their droppings to see what they live on etc, plus I expect they handle the young to determine what sex they are in order to name and study them further.
Neither do I think Shakespeare would just go off and start a new group. For a start, that isn’t how it works in meerkat society as if you think about it carefully, how would he set about starting another group anyway? I think what males do is to take over an existing one, where a male has died such as Big Cy; or I expect they also oust an existing male or overpower him with their dominance, like Zaphod must have done with Youssarian who was once the dominant male of the Whiskers, wasn’t he? I am not saying it isn’t possible that he is with another group; just that it isn’t feasible that he went to start one as that isn’t how it happens because they need quite a few in a group for it to survive, not him just merrily wandering off and randomly finding a few strays along the way. So I still think they think he died, they can’t be 100% sure of course, perhaps they are just saying he may have gone off to make people feel better, though if that’s the case, then why not air that view on the show? Who is Sarah anyway? She could be made up for all we know.
Mel, Steph
Well we can always signup with Earth Watch for one of the volunteer spots for the meerkat research project and settle the questions once and for all. I see that there are still plenty of spots open. I read the diary of one of the volunteers, (I think I started with the link above, Evi no.154). She was there in Aug. Sept of 2005.
Someone came up with some very inventive ways to help fund the research project…..free volunteers and selling time onsite to companies for documentaries and TV.
I was lucky enough to have worked on a project that required travel to South Africa in the 80’s (EXTREMELY Beautiful country but society needed changing). Everone that work there wanted to go back again.
Ok, I gotta say it’s been some interesting reading, catching up from not checking the site the past few days.
First, someone asked the question, “Who is Tim Clutton-Brock?” If I’m not mistaken, he’s basically the the guy in charge of the entire research project. He’s not with the filming company, but they had to go through him, to do the filming of the research project.
As far as the reply back to jordan, about the status of Shakespeare, and Tosca. I don’t know if I believe this info either. However, it’s just as good an explanation as anything else I’ve heard, or read thus far.
As they’re showing the repeats of the first series, I think it’s episode 4, where the meerkats end up in a lazuli burrow, while hiding from a thunderstorm. The next day, Shakes, stil recovering from his snakebite, joins in the big fight with the Lazuli. He basically is pinned down, while the rest of the Lazuli take their turns at him. He couldn’t even run away, and yet he lived through that. So I find it highly incredible, that he died fighting with Big Cy in the next to last episode.
Secondly, to explain how Shakes may have left the family to start his own. It could have been that he was really hurt, and needed some time to recover, and wasn’t up to the den move the next day. OR, as I’ve thought about this markings issue, it’s entirely possible that he got out of the burrow, during the big scuffle, in the last episode, when the Whiskers, and the Lazuli fought.
As far as Sarah’s failure to mention the big fight with Cy, it could be that all of it was filmed at different times, sort of what like walter is saying, and put together in a sort of backwards like time line.
Either way, I like thinking that Shakes took off to start his own family. I mean, that’s entirely plausible, considering Carlos was sort of trying that with Tosca. And even if he went about trying to take over another group, it’s still better than thinking of him stuck down in that hole, badly injured, and suffering, until he died.
If you are interested in checking out some of the webcams that are setup in South Africa try the link below. Chambrigde should get thier cameras setup on the Web I bet a lot of people would be interested.
http://members.tripod.com/~Meerkat_2/
FYI
Another that is better
http://www.meerkats.com/africa.html
The link in my item no. 329 requires that you use the search section in it say for meerkats.
write up for 7 and 8
Meerkat Manor, Episode 7
Things improve for Mozart when she’s allowed back into the gang, but there are tragic consequences when the Whiskers battle with the Commandos.
Meerkat Manor, Episode 8
Find out how the Whiskers family are getting on and what they’ve been up to over the last year. Who are the latest villains? Who’s in love with who?
I got an e-mail from Lynn Smith, the author of the L.A. Times article on MM, and she wants to interview people in the U.S. regarding the show. If you want to be interviewed (by phone), send me your name, phone number, what time zone you’re located in, and the best time to call and I will forward the information on to her. Send to my e-mail address: nbx_zero@yahoo.com
Mel
Did you get to see this weeks MM. Any news
Thanks for the updates, guys. Our season starts September 29th, and I can’t wait, even though I will be missing my Shakespeare desperately.
There is not a DVD for the US and Canada. They make one in England but it only plays on DVD’s in Europe etc. Don’t know when they will have on available.
Any updates on Monday’s episode (that is when it runs in the UK, right?)? I would love to get a viewer’s recap! Please, please please?!?
Sorry I didn’t get on here earlier in the week. I can’t exactly remember events in chronological order or what happened in episode 5 or 6 or rather, whether something happened in 5 or 6, but basically, Flower is in a terrible mood because the birth of her second litter of the year is imminent, food is still scarce and she needs a lot of it; even to the extent of thieving it from her previous litter who are only a few months old: that is Mango, Chutney, Achilles and I forget the name of the last one, but some hero or other! Mozart is still hanging around hopefully – so is Carlos! Flower gives birth to 5 pups but poor Mozart miscarries hers during the night in a storm as she is unable to find enough food to sustain herself or her unborn pups.
In episode 6, while the gang are out foraging, Mozart tries to slip into the burrow while only the baby sitters are at home and I presume she is then accepted back, if only for a while. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang are separated when a bird of prey flies over and I think it was Mitch gave the alarm. They scattered into 2 bolt holes: Flower with a few faithfuls, including her previous litter, Mango, Chutney, etc, so not exactly experienced fighting partners. On the way home, they are attacked by the full force of the Commandoes, they manage to dive into a burrow, only for the Commandoes to storm the burrow and try to dig out the young pups. It said that “next time on Meerkat Manor …”, the battle ends in disaster or in tragedy, I can’t remember the exact words, but obviously there is going to be yet more loss of life. Still, that’s life in the Kalahari I suppose.
On a slightly different tack, have any of you ever read “Cry of the Kalahari” by Mark and Delia Owens? This is a fascinating if not heartbreaking (in parts) book?
Anyway, I have been trying not to think too hard about what the tragic consequences of the battle will be …
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU MEL! I find that MM is much easier to deal with if I know what to expect ahead of time. Altho I won’t even start watching season 2 until Friday of next week, I need to know the heartbreak is coming before it happens. I really appreciate the update.
Cheers!
write-ups
episode 9
Deep in enemy territory, the Whiskers are caught red-handed raiding their rival’s burrow. Vastly outnumbered, the gang is forced to flee – but with Flower’s troops in disarray, things go from bad to worse. And the boss soon discovers that one of her daughters has a hidden secret.
episode 10
With Flower and her daughter Mozart both pregnant, there’s bound to be trouble in store at the Manor. Unpredictable Uncle Youssarian is left at home to look after Flower’s second litter of the year, and things take a strange turn when Mozart tries to stamp her authority on the Whiskers.
Last night, USA Animal Planet ran the last 6 episodes from season 1. During the program breaks an out take from season 2, featuring Mango, Chutney, etc., was shown.
There was no mention of CL Shakespeare as a tease for the second season. No one has mentioned his presence in season 2 thus far. I fear he is a goner. In the last episode, after the fight with the Lazuli, Flower finds her pups (Columbus et al), and takes the whole family to a new den. Could it be that CL Shakespeare is dead in the old den?
I really wish that a segment, featuring the researchers talking about the meerkats, would be shown. I would like to know more about the social biology of these little creatures.
Hmmm, maybe the ‘cast’ will appear on Inside the Actors’ Studio!
So Mozart gets pregnant again? She really does know how to push her luck, doesn’t she? I wonder if she takes over the leadership of the gang from Flower? I expect Carlos is responsible!
Check this out – I hope the link works. It’s an article in the Sept 22nd Los Angeles Times entitled ‘When bad things happen to cuddly critter on TV’.
http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/c…oll=cl-calendar
LOOK AT THIS FROM THE LA TIMES article 22 sept
TELEVISION & RADIO
When bad things happen to cuddly critters on TV
The uncertain fate of a ‘Meerkat Manor’ mainstay has avid fans of the Animal Planet reality show upset and demanding answers.
By Lynn Smith, Times Staff Writer
September 22, 2006
Is Shakespeare — dead?
Shakespeare, a loyal member of the “Meerkat Manor” clan, became a favorite of viewers in Season 1 after he survived a snake bite, rescued a stray pup and defended newborns from a rival gang before disappearing.
ADVERTISEMENTIt is the disappearance that has caused a brewing controversy on the Internet. Season 2 of Animal Planet’s “Meerkat Manor” series won’t start until Sept. 29, but anguished fans want answers now. Did he die in the burrow protecting the pups? Did he die after the snake bite? Could he have lived and simply have left the group?
Animal Planet insists it knows nothing other than that Shakespeare is missing — and that it has never produced a show that has generated such an intense emotional reaction from viewers. A mixture of wildlife documentary and soap opera, the series follows a family of 40 feisty meerkats in Africa’s Kalahari desert, where, led by an unforgiving matriarch, they face predators and rival gangs.
But recently, an angry edge seeped into fans’ Internet postings when they began to suspect, like viewers of MTV’s “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County,” that all was not as unscripted as advertised. They asked one another whether Animal Planet could possibly have substituted another dark-eyed, straight-backed, pointy-nosed mammal and just called him “Shakespeare.” Sharp-eyed viewers said they noticed Shakespeare had different markings in different scenes. Another theory was that the footage had been edited to disrupt the true chronology of events.
“What was really upsetting is that Animal Planet ran promotions saying to tune in to find out the key to Shakespeare’s fate,” said Fay Popejoy, 58, of Covina in an interview. Through an international “Meerkat Manor” fan site, she has heard that Season 2, which began in Britain on Sept. 4, does not definitively answer that question.
The self-described “meerkat maniacs” on the site who e-mailed the show’s research consultants received vague or hopeful sounding replies. “I have asked them to be honest about Shakey,” one fan wrote. “It is the not knowing that is the difficult bit.”
A few said they had shed tears; others prayed for the meerkat’s survival. “If they hadn’t made the meerkats so ‘human’ we humans would not have become so addicted and their passing wouldn’t have hurt so much,” said another.
Reached by telephone at Discovery Communications’ Maryland headquarters, executive producer Mick Kaczorowski said he understands viewers’ frustrations, but no one really knows Shakespeare’s fate. “It’s more honest to say we don’t know what happened,” he said. “We didn’t find a body. We don’t know the way it ended. He disappeared. We presume he’s dead.”
Of course, Kaczorowski said, “Like any other television show, we’re looking for a dramatic moment that will engage people enough to tune in” for a second season.
“Unfortunately, it was such a dramatic moment with a major character, Shakespeare. I don’t think we did it in a way to upset the audience.”
Kaczorowski denied the producers used another meerkat to stand in for Shakespeare or any other major character on the show.
The series is filmed from September through April, the meerkats’ mating season, in conjunction with an ongoing research project by Cambridge University. The action is captured by stationary camcorders, burrow cams and camera operators in a three-mile area.
One technique researchers use to tell the animals apart is to mark them with splotches of hair dye, which would account for various markings on a single meerkat, Kaczorowski said. “It’s all very innocent,” he said.
The series focuses on the Whiskers family, led by Flower, a dominant female with Lady Macbeth-like characteristics. She is the only female allowed to breed and banishes or bites females who break the rule.
Other fan favorites are Tosca, a banished daughter presumed to have died, and Columbus, an explorer. Popejoy said it appeared that young Mitch might be stepping up to take Shakespeare’s place as the show’s hero.
Kaczorowski said the network hasn’t ever had such a strong emotional response to a program from viewers. Part of the reason is that each family member has a name, and weekly shows reinforce viewers’ involvement with individual personalities. Another is that meerkats are cute and small (adults are a foot tall when standing; pups are 2 inches when they leave the burrow), and must band together to survive.
Judging from his mail, Kaczorowski said viewers are most troubled by the animal deaths, particularly the young pups. Popejoy said she couldn’t understand how the photographers could watch dying pups and not save them.
“It is how difficult life is in the Kalahari,” Kaczorowski said. “Only one in four pups really make it.”
Now that the animals have become used to the cameras, and producers have become used to storytelling, he said viewers can expect increasing drama and intimacy in Season 2. In other words, fans should prepare themselves for more heartwarming and heartbreaking moments.
That is, if they stick around. “I am not sure how much ‘disappearance’ I can handle,” one writer said. “It’s tough. I love those little guys.”
But Popejoy said she would watch “anything meerkat, as long as it’s honest. Someone suggested a webcam so we could watch meerkats all the time. We could watch them come and go.”
Animal Planet is counting on viewers like Popejoy to keep watching. Filming will begin this month on Season 3.
And even Kaczorowski, who knows better, said he couldn’t help begging the researchers, “Please, don’t let anything happen to Flower.”
Thanks Walter, absolutely fascinating reading. I do believe them about Shakespeare and I always did. I just can’t see what they would have to gain by not telling us if he was definitely dead. After all, they said it was almost certain, so if they knew, I’m sure they’d tell us. It’s hard, but it’s how things go in the world of animals. I am thrilled they are filming a further series too! It must be very hard for the researchers not to interfere, but if they are carrying out serious research, then they need to know things like how many pups survive etc, else it will not be real conclusive research, will it?
By the way, there are lots of other similar message boards to this one on the internet, so it isn’t just us lot who are or were so concerned about poor old Shakespeare and Tosca!
Walter: Thanks for posting the article. I hadn’t had time to find it in the newspaper. I guess I have had my 15 minutes of fame now. I got a call from NBC as they are doing a piece on MM for the Today Show and wanted to interview me based on my name being in the article. I respectfully declined. But people in the U.S. may want to watch for that, since we might get additional information. I don’t know when the piece will be on, but probably Friday since the new season starts for us then.
I am so glad I wandered onto this site. I read the disturbing article of the LA Times in this morning’s local Sunpaper and was prompted to find out what happened to Shakespeare from this site. Thank you all for your informative posts. I have never watched a soap or even a weekly TV serial in my life. I surfed onto Animal Planet by accident one Friday when it was depicting the life of the Meerkats. That’s all it took and I was hooked. I share the sentiments of all of you here and I am sad that Shakespeare won’t be back but I do understand that it is life in the wild. I just wish I didn’t care.
Hello from Birmingham, AL. I’m so glad to find out something about Shakespeare. Do you think he is really dead? Sorry to hear about Tosca, too.
I am strangely mesmerized by this show–forget Greys Anatomy and Desperate Housewives–it’s Meercat Manor all the way.
I first saw the show when I was visiting Ireland in August and saw the episode when Shakespeare got snakebit. I was delighted to find out it was coming on here! I have all the episodes TIVOd.
Fay
We should nominate Mel as she has kept us up on what is happening in Season 2. I am glad to see there is going to be a Season 3.
I’ll have to keep and eye on the Today Show. You should have taken them up on the interview. You did a lot of the ground work for Lynn Smith’s 2nd article. Actullay I read the article again and this chat room covered most of the ground she covered with the producers.
Too bad they lost Shakes
Hi folks!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch MM last night and fell asleep when the repeats were shown at about 1 am our time, but they are repeated again at 2 this afternoon, so I’ll be back later with an update but I haven’t forgotten!
MEL, a belated thank you for the news of Columbus, and all the weekly updates.
Thanks also to Walter and Suzanne for the LA Times story. I still fault Animal Planet USA for turning Shakespeare’s “fate” into a “Who shot JR?” cliff-hanger. Everyone else ended it with–he was never seen again. I love the idea of an interview show with the actual researchers, who could at least give theories of how he might have died, as he wasn’t found in the den.
I also find it strange the researchers would use different markings, if the dye washes out. Presumably they keep records of each meerkat, so wouldn’t they just remark the same spots? Even if they’re squiggly little guys, they could get them relatively in the same places. Shakespeare’s markings, as I recall, were the same for the snakebite and final battle, so I never doubted those scenes. The different markings were in the baby Mitch rescue scene. I said before, I fully believe Shakes saved pups on many occassions, but that, for a sort of “full-circle” storyline–Mitch becoming the new Shakespeare–they used footage that wasn’t necessarily those two.
As for unscripted versus point of view, consider Mozart and Tosca stayed behind to guard Shakespeare when he had the snake bite. later, when they were exiled, he was one of the family members who chased them away. That’s the hard life of their existence. but the producers could have made Shakespeare the ungrateful brother, if they’d chosen to go that route. Heck, they kept my head spinning with poor old Youssarian. In one episode they make him seem a baby-killer by getting Daisy to move 2 of her pups, thus ensuring death for the those left behind. Yet, in the next episode, they say he was the only one who tried to save her pups!
So, my complaint continues to be the way the US AP is handling Shakespeare. Well, and that the UK originally couldn’t be bothered to even answer all your attempts months ago for an answer–even if it was that they didn’t know how, but assumed he was dead. I guess that’s tv land, but it still bothers me in what is still in reality a documentary. But, of course, I’ll be watching every minute, and am happy to hear about season 3, before season 2 has even aired here.
Hello! I absolutley LOVE Suzanne’s idea of interviewing the reserarchers about thier work. It’s like the special features on a DVD where you get that whole “behind the scenes” perspective. I would really like to hear what they have to say about participating in such a fascinating, and what must be a sometimes heartbreaking project!
BTW…only 3 more days for us U.S. folks!
Now for the latest update in series 2: well, the Whiskers came out of the battle relatively unscathed, though there was a little build-up to this. At the end of the last episode, Flower and a small band of her gang, including her still quite young and inexperienced pups, were holed up in a bolt hole to hide from a bird of prey and were then caught there by the Commandoes who stormed the burrow. Time was running out for them as they were way outnumbered by the rival gang. However, in the nick of time, Zaphod appears, though at that time, he has no idea what is going on or about to happen underground. Suddenly, he is attacked by the full force of the Commandoes, he doesn’t stand a chance (I’m getting as bad as the producers!), but the rest of his fauthful band are watching and a full battle ensues. Meanwhile, back at the Whiskers’ main burrow, Mozart has crept back in while her offspring, Sophie and Spud, are babysitting and she is eventually fully accepted back – for now!
Back at the site of the battle, however, as the Whiskers creep home to lick their wounds, there are 2 of their number missing and a large male meerkat lays dead in the sand … then it’s the break or it was in the UK anyway! So I sat there biting my fingernails till the show recommenced.
At the Whiskers’ burrow, it’s Zaphod and Mitch who haven’t returned, but low and behold, they do come wearily home to the fold of their family. It was the son of the dominant male of the Commandoes who you saw laying dead.
It then moves to 3 weeks later. They have some problems with a Cape cobra but no one comes to any harm.
They then all set out on a trip to find food and also to the water hole and leave none other than Youssarian in charge of the babies, on his own. Needless to say, he wanders off and leaves them alone. I think that was the end of the episode.
In the following episode, Youssarian goes off to one of his favourite haunts: the main burrow of the Lazuli where he encounters his old flame, Pancake, at home with the 2 babies that he obviously fathered! He isn’t welcome and is chased away. I forgot to say that he was out all night after leaving the babies and that despite a terrible storm during the previous afternoon, when they were left alone while the others were out foraging, they survived ok. So it’s the following day when he pays a visit to the Lazuli. He is chased away. Meanwhile, the rest of the Whiskers find that the Lazuli have kind of encroached onto their territory, though it’s a borderline area. They have a bit of a confrontation with them but the Lazuli are outnumbered. The next day, Flower leads them purposely to the Lazuli’s main burrow because she obviously thinks it is too close to theirs and the pups are still too young to be mov
. Pancake is at home with the babies and Penny is keeping watch. She immediately legs it, the Whiskers begin to digdown, but then they spot Youssarian, think he is one of the Lazuli so loads of them go after him; and then the main body of the Lazuli return to commence battle and because most of the Whiskers are off chasing Youssarian, there aren’t many of them to fight! Poor old Youssarian does seem to be somewhat of a liability, doesn’t he?
Mel, Thank you for the latest news. I’m with Dawn–I’d rather know what’s coming and be able to enjoy the show. There’s enough heartbreak without the “stay-tuned” tactics. Now, I won’t feel the same “Hooray” feeling when I see Mitch and Zaphod reappear, but I think my nerves and fingernails are better off without the suspense.
Oh, Youssarian. I guess we should look it at as–he saved Pancake’s pups. (I love that name.) But I think they’d be smarter to have one look-out watching Youssarian at all times, as he sometines seems to be their biggest danger.
Antimon, I kept checking but somehow missed when you posted new pictures. You really are talented, and I love that you did Columbus. My favorite is still your sketch of Shakespeare, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Thanks again, Mel!
Too much information going in too many different directions about Shakes and Tosca leads me to believe we will never know. . .
According to the LA article, they don’t know what happened to Shakes or Tosca.
According to Sarah 312 who was there for the filming said Shakes left the Whiskers on his own in season 1 (maybe a stand-in fought Cy) and Tosca had returned and is back (she maybe one of 40 we don’t know).
Do you think Sarah is right and to make the show more dramatic they had Shakes disappear after a heroic fight and Tosca die, an outcast?
It is much more dramatic then Shakes left on his own and Tosca came back.
Look at how much fuss it has generated, you know ratings went up. I have noticed the commercials for Meerkat Manor have increased and they have added show tags at the bottom of the screen on some shows announcing “only 2 more days till Meerkat Manor”.
On another note, I saw on another AP show that Meerkat burrows have many entrances and exits, so Shakes could have fought with Cy and run out another exit and died or left, or something like that. Sadly, I think we may be beating a dead horse trying to find out more on Shakes and Tosca.
Reading the last few posts we are moving on to the new show and enjoying the new babies. Only 1 more day! I am so excited. Bless you Mel for keeping us posted.
Everyone have a great day! And keep talking Meerkat!
No problem and hope you enjoy the first episode of season 2 tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the post supposedly from Sarah may have been a red herring or even a hoax. Am I being cynical? Probably, but we’ve never heard any more about this Sarah. Perhaps Shakes did just disappear somewhere, but I doubt Tosca did survive alone and from what we can gather, she certainly is no longer a subordinate female within the group. I am sure they wouldn’t say she wasn’t there if she really was? One thing I have been meaning to say for a while is that of course we don’t see absolutely all the comings and goings as the film is cut, I am sure some of the lesser meerkats do die sometimes as at the beginning of the first series, I can’t remember how many there were in the gang; but it went up to 40 and now after several more litters, they are still saying a gang of 40 or once they did say of just over 40. I expect some have slipped along the wayside, perhaps a few that weren’t prominent characters. It’s only a theory. It’s just a theory but they always say only a small percentage from each litter will make it to adulthood and if all of Flower’s pups had done, then surely the gang would number over 60 by now? What do others think? I suppose they can’t fill us in with every minute detail as they have to give the main bones of the story in a pretty short time really.
Waiting on pins and needles for tomorrow — the first episode of the new series. Hope I see Shakespeare and Tosca despite the dire news I’ve been reading. Thanks everyone for the opinions and updates. Be back tomorrow to get your new ideas and opinions.
Well, I have to say thanks to Fay for getting the pot stirred up, to get Lynn to get to the bottom of the story…sort of. So thanks to Lynn as well. And a continued thanks to Mel for the updates on season 2. I about lost it when I read Zaphod may have disappeared. Next to Shakes, he’s my favorite. Glad to read him alive, well, and back on the scene.
For those of you who wanted a meerkat webcam, there is actually a cam out there if you want to see them in action of sorts. Marwell zoo in the UK, has a meerkat cam, but it just takes pics every 5 min’s or so. So it’s not live action. And getting the timing down as to when to see them, and see what’s going on is a little tricky. And you have to continually refresh the page every 5 mins to get the newest pics. I’ve gotten some cool shots of them perched up on their back legs checking things out.
Cricket St. Thomas park claims to have a cam too. And it’s more a constant feed, but I’ve yet to see a meerkat on it. And it hops around the park looking at different animals.
I too have missed the pictures of Columbus and others, Shakespeare’s picture was great so if anyone remembers the links please post.
I see AP is airing both the no. 1 and no. 2 episosedes here in the USA tonight 8:00 and 8:30.
Did the Today Show have a segment on Meerkats and the LA Times article with all the concerns of the ending of last season. I think it was to be yesterday or today. Anyone??
I watched this morning, and they didn’t mention it
Shakes
http://atimon.lionpaws.de/albums/album11/abg.sized.jpg
??? Just found this site and I still have not read one person question on…. There are cameras all over the place… and not one of the cameras pick up Shakespeare running off…. were is the footage of the last place were he was… for AP to say that they don’t know… HA.. they are full of it and just playing it off… come on… think about it…
I think the key to Shakespeare’s fate lies in the blackened camera in the light episode of season one. Remember, after the Lazuli attack, there was a multi-camera shot of the Whiskers burrow. There were four or six squares showing different angles. The upper right square was the only one that was blacked out.
I believe, that may have had Shakespear’s body. I also believe the reason Flower made the den move was to get away from Shakespear’s corpse.
Just a thought. I do wish Animal Planet would tell us something more difinitive.
Walter, Hope this works. These are Atimon’s pics of Zaphod and Columbus. (If not, they’re in one of her recent posts.
http://atimon.lionpaws.de/albums/album11/abi.sized.jpg http://atimon.lionpaws.de/albums/album11/abk.sized.jpg
Atimon, apologies for spelling your name wrong!!
MEL, thanks again for posting episode summeries. I thought the US AP might add a line about Shakespeare (the KEY to his fate) as they’d advertisd it so shamelessly. Nope. Same narration as yours. I did a quick check of the AP message board, and it looks like AP will be getting a ton of angry mail from fans. I’m so grateful you put us out of our misery a month ago. Also, it left me free to have a laugh when the wandering group of Whiskers didn’t realize they were being chased by their own family trying to catch up with them.
I can’t find the post, but I think whoever pointed out the reverse camera angle business should be hired as PR person for AP. That finally made sense to me, and I can now believe it was Shakespeare who was rescuing Mitch. It explains why the markings would seem to be different from scene to scene while keeping everything in real time. So, thank you, Whoever!
PS MEL, “Lazuli Ladies” apparently just isn’t the same when said by Sean Astin. MUST get Bill’s version.
Ok, here we go. Call the newspapers and lets get a rebuttle back to Mike Kaczorowski. I watched the first 2 episodes last night. And I’m already finding troublesome issues in the shows. Don’t get me wrong, I love the show, but to further the point that Lynn was making about us Meerkat Maniacs, the producers and/or editors of the show need some lessons on concistancy.
First of all, in Episode 2, of season 2, I saw a meerkat, who looked very much like the meerkat we know as shakespeare, who was defending the pups when the Lazuli attacked. Shakes had a small, (quarter sized?) spot just above his front left shoulder, and a very dark marking on his back left leg. In episode 2 of season 2, the Whiskers are taking a break under the tree, just before the splinter group takes off. At one point they show a meerkat, who is catching some zzzz’s in a sitting position, but with his head slumped over like he’s trying to kiss his own butt. That meerkat, has the spot on the shoulder, and you have to look closely at his back leg, because he’s sitting in sand, but there is a very dark spot he’s sitting on, at his back leg. Now I’m not there, obviously, and I don’t have any of the shows taped, tivo’d as to compare, them, but I say that’s Shakes.
Ok, maybe you think I’m nuts, or I”m looking at things too wishfully right? Well, consider this…. In season one, when Shakes rescue’s mitch in the first episode…They use the phrase that “Mitch’s uncle Shakespeare…” Now, I sort of let that go, because I figured, you could sort of classify him as an uncle. However, Shakes is Flower’s son, and Mitch was part of Flower’s first litter of season 1. Meaning, they’re actually brothers. Now, in season 2, when they’re introducing the Whiskers, in the opening credits, “Dominate female Flower, Her partner Zaphod,…etc….They’re introducing Mitch as the grandson. Meaning, he would have had to have been one of Mozart’s, Tosca’s, or Daisy’s pups. How the hell did he get demoted?
And my point to that is, if they can be so sloppy with such a FACT, (that Mitch isn’t a grandson to anyone), Then they can surely be just as careless with their distinctions of what meerkat is which. I don’t lay this on the researchers, I lay this squarely on the shoulders of the producers of the show. I’ll talk to the Today show, I’ll talk to Ms. Smith, I just wasn’t available last week, because of work. My email is Machine8828@yahoo.com. All we as fans ask, is that there be some sort of consistancy in the show, characters, and stories. And if bad things happen, then that’s fine, we can accept it, but lay it out there.
Apart from the stuff mentioned, I enjoyed the shows. I got a huge kick out of watching J.D. Chasing Mitch off. It was like watching 2 cheetah’s scootin across the brush. I felt bad for Pancake though. It’s sad to see her hopes built up with the promise of companionship, and then to see Youssarian dash off the next morning, like running off from a bad one night stand. I didn’t feel so sorry about Youssarian getting beat down by Zaphod after that. And Atila chasing off Grog (sort of) was funny as all get out.
Since I can’t post on the US website, I thought I would come here and see if anyone else posted. First off. The UK website is so much better than the US website its pitiful. Second, it hit me hard when the first episode of the second season talked about Shakespeare missing, then when they showed all the meerkats involved in season 2, there was no mention of courageous Shakespeare. My heart dropped to the floor. Then, they showed the second episode and there was no mention of him at all. Reality check and it hurt. Third, this forum is fantastic. Thanks to everyone who talks about the show and gives their perspective of the events that they follow. Keep it up.
Machine you are right. This is footage edited to go with the storyline, they “the producers/editors” don’t know who is who, they just cut the best cutest footage to go with the script. That footage under the tree could have happend way before the fight with Cy or after who knows. I noticed the scene of the pups waking up coming out of the burrow for the first time and the scene of them emerging from bolt hole after a scare are the EXACT same piece of footage. I have noticed they do that often.
The researchers know who is who and what is what, but the producers are just making us a good show. Most TV is probably done like this even the news. But tell us its a show and tell us the details of the main characters when something happens, it’s ok we just would like to know.
RoryL I thought the same of the blacked out camera too. They give us little “farwells” in the beginning to Shakes and Tosca. With a Shakes never returned after the fight and Tosca has not been seen in months. Shakes and Tosca are no longer in the opening credits. Flower, Zaphod, Youssarian, Mozart, Mitch and the Lasuli are in the opening credits, so they will be the players this go round. Others will wander in and out, Pancake, Grog, Will, etc.
It was wonderful watching the show again. I will continue to watch, enjoying them, and not getting as wrapped up in ‘the story’. That chase with Mitch and J.D. was fun.
Can someone please help me with this question ? Which meerkat kept wanting to change burrows everytime he baby sat ?
Yes “Grandson” is stretching it he is someone’s grandson but that’s not part of this show.
Well they screwed up again. Also Mitch is described in the NEW family tree as Shakespeare’s younger brother… see “Meet the Whiskers” on AP’s USA home page. They did not stick around long enough to find out what happened to shakes why should we be surprised they are opening each show with another mistake.
The film editing is an issue we have talked about before.
I still have my doubts about the final screens in season 1 the meerkat they show hugging the pups in the tunnel has no markings on him/(her) at all. But I have gone on about this before and the producers say they do not used standins….right.
I believe the last minutes in the tunnel where edited in England. The last two shows had those bright yellow flowers ( Devil …something) around for what they would have us believe where weeks in the dry climate. But all this is a moot point Shakespeare is gone dead by unknown means that will not change. They film from Nov. to April so they have to do something with those great shoots that come in the last 2 weeks.
Unfortunately I thought that something was missing from the first 2 episodes this year. Dig..eat..fight..eat fight.
Maybe when I see Columbus again.
Did anyone else notice the all markings they are putting on the meerkats this season. Maybe because they are covering three Mobs instead of one it has to be difficult to keep track.
Oh the sceen they show with big Sy bitting at the cable camera is probaly the reason for the blank screen.
Well that’s my story and I am sticking to it. (American humor) sorry.
Yes, I absolutely agree that there seemed to be a different mood in the first 2 episodes of the second season.
Where was that sly Carlos and our explorer, Colombus? I know that this is life in a harsh desert but I really can’t take many more losses.
I think the markings are for the benefit of the researchers, not for those of the camera crew. After all, they have been researching these animals for the past 10 or so years and they obviously need to make distinctions among a lot of at the end of the day, fairly similar looking animals, or at a quick glance anyway. Different people come and go on the research project, so I suppose it makes it easier for them to learn to distinguish them in perhaps the short time they are there and less mistakes of identity are likely to occur. The mix up over Mitch being described as the grandson is obviously down to the TV editing.
I am in the US so I have only seen the first two episodes of the second season, but I am so depressed that I don’t think I can watch anymore.
Where are Carlos or Columbus?
I don’t think I can stand to see any more evicted females after finding out that Tosca probably didn’t make it throught winter and I am torn up over Shakespeare and to find out what happened to Big Cy.
I know these are the laws of nature, but I don’t think I
stand anymore.
I know you are a few episodes ahead, so does anything uplifting happen?
Hi Everyone-
I am also very sad about Shakespeare. However we are warned at the beginning of each episode that it is about the life and DEATH of the meerkats. It’s hard not to fall in love with the cute critters, though.
I got a meerkat T shirt that is very cool. Go onto the Animal Planet website, under Adopt a Meerkat, click the link. The website is http://www.fellowearthlings.org/. It is a group in California that cares for meerkats. They are very nice. The T shirt is awesome. And no, I don’t work for them. :-)
Well, Carlos and Columbus are still both around in future episodes. It rather depends what you call uplifting. The meerkats were all threatened by a Cape cobra but they all surrounded it and tried to ward it off. It wasn’t having any of it though, but a bird of prey came over (I can’t remember but is it a snake eagle?) so that scared all the meerkats away into hiding and the snake was left to fight another battle! And there was a terrible battle when the Whiskers became separated. We were led to believe that either Zaphod or Mitch had died, but neither of them did, though one of the Commandoes’ number did. Mozart was allowed back into the Whiskers gang after Flower had given birth, even though she lost her own pups as they were aborted. Do keep watching though Pat as I will keep posting messages on here so you will know in advance if there is anything truly terrible, then you needn’t watch anymore!
Why won’t they just come out and say what happened to Shakespeare? If he’s dead, he’s dead. We will just have to live with it, But don’t say you don’t know when you have a camera in every hole.
Sarah,
The Meerkat that kept wanting to change burrows everytime he babysat, was good ole uncle Youssarian. His nervous nature, kept him continually thinking that the pups needed to be moved to a new den.
Sorry ladies and gents,
I didn’t mean to start beating a dead horse about the editing. I know we’ve all had our input about it before. I just find it very disappointing that mistakes are being made about these cute little guys.
The point of this show, and really any show that deals with nature, is to educate and inform. And Meerkat Manor is directed towards all ages, but espcially towards the younger generation. But just because you’re gearing it towards kids, doesn’t give anyone the right to just throw some random slop on film and make it a tv show. People who do this aren’t interested in nature, they’re interested in money, and how much they can make at the exploitation of nature or animals.
Meerkat Manor has about 15 minutes of actual show time, and about 15 minutes of commercials in a 30 minute show. And with the careless way they’re putting this stuff together, it really takes away the credibility of the producers, and even the Animal Planet for allowing such stuff. So yeah, I’m a little harsh on the producers, and it’s my hope that the message gets across back to the producers, and even back to the Animal Planet, to get it right. Take a lesson from everyone’s favorite Aussie, Steve Irwin. Making money off nature, is completely a byproduct of putting together an entertaining, and informative show. And I’m ok with that. But, using nature to make money, and having the conservation and information about the animals as a byproduct, isn’t ok with me, nor should it be with anyone. It’s no better than those who catch cobras and remove their fangs just to have some road side show for tourists. It’s no better than poachers who kill Elephants just so they can sell their tusks.
I’ll step off my soap box now.
I agree to a certain extent, except that in the case of cobras and the removal of their fangs and elephants etc, they are deliberately killed to make money, the meerkats aren’t.
True Mel,
I understand there is a difference. However, I offer this…
What seperates humans from all other animals, is judgement among other things. Our ability to see things, and then do something about it if we feel like something is wrong. So poachers are procecuted, Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin among other try to educate other conuntries about killing or damaging animals like cobras. Because they know/knew it’s not right.
Meerkats (on the show) haven’t been deliberatly killed, but the show has made money off the death of the Meerkats. Look at the intense level of interest about Shakespeare. I’m not saying that the researchers should or shouldn’t have intervened. But they did as far as Big Si went and his TB. There is a delicate balance between letting nature take it’s course, and making the decision to step in and do something about it. If a bird of prey were to take a pup, for a meal, that’s one thing. But I think, an obvious mistake, such as Youssarian leaving pups out in the desert to die, is a missed opportunity, for people to step in and make a difference.
I have a whole other issue about meerkats and zoo’s which I’ll save for another convo. My point, and I offer it for consideration only, not as an argument, because I think we’re all pretty much in agreement, but the show has made money off the deaths of meerkats, be it deliberate or not.
I see what you are saying and I agree in principle. It must be difficult to decide whether to interfere or not, it’s the same with all documentaries and often they don’t and I suppose in a way, it’s to try and show how even with the best intentions on the part of the meerkats, they do make mistakes and things can go wrong. I suppose another thing is that with the research project, they do try and interfere as little as possible because it would mess up their findings in terms of say the percentages of pups that survive. As I’ve said before, if they all survived, there wouldn’t be enough food to sustain them all. That’s true of all animals, us included. We would all just run right out of resources.
As for the zoos, I’m generally not in favour of them anyway, although we have a few good ones here in the UK, where the owners are trying to link up with others across the world to breed some endangered species and keep them from extinction.
I suppose if the money made by the Meerkat show were to be put back into animal work or conservation, it wouldn’t be quite so bad. That’s what Steve Irwin did with his and this will likely continue to be the case even after his untimely death, God rest his soul.
Segment aired today on the TODAY show. Where’s Shakes? AP will not say. Officially they say “sorry, we don’t know”. A good promo for the Manor, it will get more viewers.
I think there may be a little “fuzzying” of responsibilities here, Machine. I truly believe the researchers “research” to the best of their ability to achieve a certain scientific end, while the producers of the show “produce” to a commercial end. I whole-heartedly respect what the researchers do, even the tough choices they make on a daily basis (many of which I would handle differently but not necessarily better), so I would hesitate to criticize [or criticise for all you Brits :)] what they do. I’m a pet owner, not a researcher. I feel much more inclined to criticize the producers, however…I hate to be emotionally manipulated!!!
Let me say it again, Mel (because I can’t say it enough)…thanks for the updates of the episodes and saving me the heartache of getting slapped upside the head with an unexpected tragedy. I’m much too much of a softie. BTW…this site is SO MUCH BETTER than the AP chat site. Real conversation here. Kudos!
HELLO FELLOW MEERKAT LOVERS….I FINALLY HAVE WHAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!! Following is the email I received back from Tom Flower, who is THE Field Project Manager for the Kalahari Meerkat Project, and as you will see in his reply, has been researching our little critters for the last 13 years. This email answers, I believe in total honesty, our question on the fate of Shakespeare once and for all. I also feel much better about the show and it’s authenticity now. I am including my original letter sent out to as many of the professors as I could get email addresses for. I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get back with this, but my life has been almost as hectic as our little friend’s lives in the Kalahari. I hope to catch up on all the postings soon…here are the emails, with mine posted first…(I do want to warn everyone that we loved Shakey before you will love him even more after reading Tom’s reply!)
Dear Professors,
I am writing you on behalf of many, many fans of the Kalahari Meerkat research project. I am not sure you realize how much attention the project has right now…I am sure you know how successful the “Meerkat Manor” series that Animal Planet is running is, but I am part of a worldwide group
of people that discuss the project and show on a regular basis. We feel that the show may not be an accurate depiction of the actual findings of your research project however. Our members in the U.K. are already viewing the second season of the show, and the big “hype” about the “fate of Shakespeare” has not even been addressed, which leads us to believe that it
was simply played up to get us, the viewers, to watch the show. The fact is however, that we would really like to know the truth about what really happened to the meerkat they called Shakespeare…was he killed in the fight with the dominant male of the Lazili’s or did he simply leave the
family to start his own group? There are many people confused about this, and I promised that I would write you to attempt to find out, as it seems the producers of the show are not going to tell us. I believe that the show is actually not shown in sequence, but rather made up of various clips
edited together to make up a show. I don’t want to take up too much of your valuable time, so if you could let us know what really happened to Shakespeare and Tosca that would be greatly appreciated. We know we can depend on you to deliver the truth…the producers of the show are another story. Thank -you so much!
Sincerely,
Deidre Tillotson
Dear Deidre
You want the truth….you can’t handle the truth.
Sorry, only joking. In answer to your questions, I can reassure you that the makers of ‘Meerkat Manor’ haven’t been mocking up their story lines, in fact i personally have a
great deal of respect for the sincere effort they make to incorporate factually accurate story lines into the series. It is not a case of them writing a few ideas down, coming out
to the Kalahari and hoping to pick up enough shots to make up what they want. In fact the ‘Meerkat Manor’ production has committed huge amounts of time to just being out in the
wilderness with the Whiskers group recording the true stories that occur in their lives. To be honest the meerkats may even do a better job of making the script than any writer could.
We the Kalahari Meerkat Project, have been here for 13 years and are fully aware of the fascinating little soap opera that is played out in the population of meerkats we study. The ‘Meerkat Manor’ producers have taken on ex-meerkat project research staff to correctly inform them about everything they are seeing and have thus far not included any factually inaccurate stories. In fact, they more than any other film production have illustrated the startling conflict within and between meerkat groups as well as their amazing cooperative behaviour. As a scientist i am not so keen on the anthropomorphism involved in creating and developing the characters in the series, scientists tend to avoid assuming animals feel in exactly the same way as humans, we just don’t know, however, the events are accurate.
With regards to Shakespeare’s story, he was bitten by a snake and did fully recover to become one of the best helpers in the group, in fact it was more spectacular than was conveyed in ‘Meerkat Manor’. But we just do not know what his ultimate fate was, meerkats are often killed defending pup’s, 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. This is unfortunate, but we cant know everything about each meerkat. The film producers were stuck and probably drew inspiration
from an incident at two other groups in the population of over 250 meerkats, where a meerkat was killed defending pups successfully.
What i can inform you off, is that just as much has happened since and will continue to happen in the future, there are still many frankly amazing events that occur in a meerkats
life that have not been covered. I am delighted that you have been able to draw as much entertainment out of the meerkats lives as we do when studying them. I my self have spent
over 4000 hours observing meerkats, that’s an awfully long time and they need charisma and entertainment to keep you here that long.
Best Wishes
Tom Flower
Field Project Manager
Kalahari Meerkat Project
Kuruman River Reserve
I will thank Prof. Flower for his email, and hopefully he will invite me to continue to correspond with him about our favorite little fellows in the Kalahari!! Take care guys, and I hope you all enjoy the email as much as I did!!!
Thanks so much Deidre, this is fantastic. Above all, I am so pleased that the show is authentic. I personally never really doubted it, though I could see at times why others might. I also never doubted that they didn’t know the fate of Shakespeare else they would have told us, but I think the producers or AP (esp in the USA) shouldn’t have hyped it up about Shakespeare’s fate for the beginning of series 2. It hasn’t been hyped up like that really in the UK. We were left hanging at the end of the first series of course. The email didn’t mention Tosca but again, I am sure they were telling the truth when they say they assumed she died: they obviously don’t know for sure as they never found the body, but she disappeared, presumed dead because it is highly unlikely that a lone meerkat could survive the winter alone and wouldn’t be accepted into another group.
While this may not be the outcome we all ultimately hoped for, it at least answers some questions and we know that the fate of Shakespeare wasn’t being kept from us. But what a fascinating reply. Thanks again Deidre, thank you so much! Now I’d better go and get my family’s dinner else I won’t be ready in time to watch tonight! See you later!
Thanks Deidre.
Deidre,
Thank you for the very informative and reassuring email from Mr. Flower (The whiskers Dom. female Namesake by chance?) It’s good to know once and for all that the stories aren’t written and then a series of clips spliced together for the sake of the story.
And I’d like to apologize to everyone who reads this board as I feel a little responsible for this mass confusion that has been discussed in depth. I found this message board, back when Shakespeare was bitten by the snake (in the usa series, so earlier this summer) and I read over the posts on here and learned that the series had been shown in the UK the year before. Then, I found the AP message board, and started to participate in conversations there. Since I had seen the events of the series before on this message board, I knew what to expect as the shows came on. And I dreaded seeing the next to last show, because I knew that would be the last that would be seen of the little hero of the show. As the show before Shakespeare disappeared (episode 11 I think) was shown, I began to wonder if there was some sort of conspiracy of sorts, to draw people in to watch the show. So I made a post on the AP message board explaining out that very idea, that maybe the show was put together based on a story written by writers. I had never seen that idea discussed on this site, or anywhere else. It was just my desperation of trying to figure out the real fate of Shakespeare. Now, I’m not sure, how that topic migrated over to this board, but I had never seen it discussed until that point. And as I saw it being introduced and discussed, that’s when I decided to chime in with my never ending posts. (Hey, I’m loquacious, what can I say?)
Anyway, I’m glad to know from someone who was there. I feared we’d never know, because I lost a lot of faith in the show’s producers (and I still have issues about their accuaracy ala Mitch). And I gave up on AP’s message board, because it seemed MOST of the people I were chatting with there, were a tad young, for me. Last thing I need is the feds knocking on my door, because I’m discussing meerkats with some 14 year old girl. UGH!! Anyway, I like you guys much more, because you all seem to be more in my age bracket, and the discussions are much more informative and interesting.
In response to Mel, via my last post. I hope I didn’t come across as argumentative. I promise, I wasn’t being so. Emotions aren’t well expressed when chatting (hey, machine’s have no emotions right?) And I agree with you 1000% that there has to be a sort of population control to keep all forms of creatures in check. Here in the states, I’m a firm believer in LEGALLY deer hunting. And in my state, we have a thriving deer population, because our conservation management efforts, including hunting. I’m not an avid hunter myself, although I’ve been a few times, and killed nothing but time. But like I said, I agree with you that not every meerkat that is in trouble should be saved.
What I liked about Steve Irwin, and his zoo, is he made every attempt to provide a natural environment for his animals. His crocs, had their own territory, and he provided stimulus for each one, to simulate being in the wild. What I hate about meerkats in zoo’s, is it seems that they’re just tossed into a small enclosure, and every meerkat I’ve seen seems almost unhappy (although it’s hard to see emotions on the little guys if they have them in that way) because they’re not allowed to run around, do their war dances, dig like mad looking for food. It’s more of a dependancy on keepers to bring them food, and they sit around and do nothing else. I don’t know what every zoo does, and I may be completely off base. And I’m sure, there are probably some who make serious efforts to provide as real a natural life for them as possible. I just know it’s difficult to do that, AND make some experience so that people can see them as well.
ok, I’ll shut up now.
Mr. Flower says, “we can’t know everything about each meerkat.” So why does AP lead us to believe that they do. That’s what bugs me. AP says “our cameras recording every minute of each of their lives.” Leads me to believe that AP is keeping track each one of them. When the head of the research team says “we can’t know everything about each meerkat.” If the researchers don’t keep track then how are we to know AP does?
Mr. Flower explains Shakes:
“The film producers WERE STUCK and probably drew inspiration from an incident at two other groups in the population of over 250 meerkats, where a meerkat was killed defending pups successfully.”
Which means what? Shakes disappeared and it was a better story (drew inspiration) to have him die in a fight over pups?
I am not really happy with them “selling” Shakes death to promote the show, especially if it was “inspiration”, but that is advertising.
I am sure the show is actual events, all this stuff does actually happen to Meerkats, but the show is only 15 minutes and they have hours of footage dig. . .eat. . fight. . play. . .dig. . .eat. . fight. . play. . . if they “can’t know everything about each meerkat” they take the most interesting events, apply “inspiration” and creatively put it together.
However. . .
They did mess up with Mitch the “grandson” and they did use the same film clip for narriation of “waking up” and later for narriation of “emerging from bolt hole”. They will need to pay more attention to detail, we are watching!
Most of this will probably never be resolved. I am glad that all our “concern” brought on national media attention (the TODAY SHOW) to the Manor and AP, they have so many great shows.
Sorry to keep going on and on about this, I will also shut up now.
I will and hope everyone will continue to watch with or without a storyline. They are wonderful.
Have a great day everyone!
http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?s=d36d243edfba741848f467e2f7e31ede&showtopic=3141933&st=240
Use this link and the posting ‘raina1049′ to see the Today Show segment about Meerkat Manor.
Don’t worry Machine, I didn’t think you were being argumentative – or no more than me anyway and I didn’t mean to be either!
I thought after my comments about zoos that Steve Irwin’s was definitely an exception to the kind of zoo I was thinking about. Mind you, he was an exceptional guy with an exceptional perception of animals, their environments, needs etc.
I suppose the TV production team may have used a bit of (not sure if poetic is the correct term) licence in saying they film 24 hours a day or perhaps they did. I suppose all meerkats do is dig, eat, sleep (or whatever!). They obviously can’t show all the footage ever taken. Any documentary is edited. I once featured (very briefly) in a documentary here in the UK with a friend of mine. They spent a whole day here with me but very little of what they filmed was shown in the event, because events with my friend, about whom they were making the film, took a different turn. I suppose in those circumstances they did put together a storyline, but none of it was made up, it did all happen, but perhaps they just made it appear slightly different in the timing etc. Anyway, it’s late: what the hell am I on about? Perhaps I ought to shut up.
Well, the latest lowdown: nothing to get too worried about. Last time, we were left with the attack on the Lazuli burrow in full swing, though most of the Whiskers had chased off what they thought was a Lazuli male but which actually happened to be good old Youssarian. The Lazuli return to their wrecked burrow and the Whiskers beat a hasty retreat. For a few mins, we are left thinking that Pancake and her pups were nowhere to be found (perhaps dead?) but they appear from the furthest reaches of the burrow.
Flower and her small band of followers, those that had been left at the Lazuli site when the others chased Youssarian, returned home. But Flower was uneasy and decided on a burrow move. However, the majority of the Whiskers aren’t there and they are separated for over a week. They eventually find each other again and all is well. Flower is expecting her 15th litter and Mozart is also pregnant so moods are running high, or hormones rather! Mozart takes it upon herself to kick Daisy out of the gang and Flower lets her get away with it till the next day, when she reaffirms her dominance over Mozart and gives her a strict warning. Somewhere along the line Youssarian is left baby sitting again and one of the pups, Blossom, does a runner from him so he has to frantically search for her and eventually tracks her down to under a bush! It said that in the next episodes there have been heavy rains in the Kalahari and one of the pup’s lives hangs in the balance … I’ll shut up now!
What irked me about AP was that the fact that they were hyping the possibility that Shakespeare, being heads and shoulders over all the other Meerkats as they put it, might be taking over the leadership of the Whiskers. The ad talked about “passing the torch of leadership” to Shakespeare for the new season.
I find it unacceptable for them to have hyped the little guy in this fashion when they knew very well he had already disappeared. They had me all excited about Shakespeare having some great future with the Whiskers and then he vanishes in the next show and proclaimed most likely dead in the season opener. I was totally shocked. My daughter and I were totally heart-broken about the change of events.
I am well aware that this is true life and things like that happen but they DID NOT HAVE TO SET my expectations of great things to come for Shakespeare in season two. Talk about building me up and then dropping me off a cliff. I find that kind of advertising to be the worst kind of sensationalistic hype that is right up there with the National Enquirer. I had expected better from a channel like AP. Guess I was wrong
Well, I didn’t shut up for long.
I meant to say that I don’t agree with hunting, though if it is considered necessary for culling, then as long as it’s carried out by professionals, that’s not so bad. They witter on here about culling deer too and some people would like foxes to be culled. Even in the towns here, they are prevalent in people’s back gardens. And when I inferred that they couldn’t interfere in saving Mozart’s pup, I only meant because of the research project and if there was ever an injured animal in my back garden (or yard as you say!!!!), I couldn’t stand by and do nothing to help.
As for making money out of animals: I got to thinking that in comparison with some things, AP haven’t done anything so bad you know. I don’t know if any of you ever saw a documentary made in the late 90’s and repeated up till a few years ago on AP called “Lions Finding Freedom”. It told the true story of a private estate in South Africa where there had once been lions roaming free but they had died out for whatever reason. So a plan was formed to reintroduce them using lions from various game reserves. They took several lions, some were found to be carriers of TB so were destroyed before being set free on the private estate. However, they eventually found a group that were clear of TB and after spending some time in what they called a boma, an enclosure, they were released onto this estate. The lions split into 2 groups naturally, some went one side of an electric fence and some stayed on the original side. It was a long swathe of land or a tract of land. There were various disasters to the ones that remained on the boma side: one lioness died, thought to have been bitten by a snake; one was snared and strangled, but eventually, they got a nice population going. After the series, I decided to do some research on the internet to find out how they had all fared. It was a kind of research project, a bit like the meerkats, not for as long or in as much depth, but they tracked the animals for a few years after their release.
I was absolutely heartbroken and completely devastated to discover that one group of lions had been found to be carrying TB after all, perhaps caught from prey they had eaten. These animals (the lions) were used to being darted for checks etc, so why not deliver a fatal dose of anaesthetic in a dart? No, they didn’t do that, instead they allowed hunters to pay the private owners of the estate to go in and hunt the lions and kill them. If that isn’t making money out of animals, especially sick ones, I don’t know what is. I cried for weeks and weeks over it and still can’t bear to think about it in any great depth and I made this grusome discovery about 4 years ago now! It was almost a form of what they call “canned hunting” which I know goes on in Africa and also in the USA, from what I am led to believe.
Anyway,I really will shut up now, but I just thought I’d share with you my thoughts that AP haven’t done anything nearly as bad as the owners of that estate.
I agree. The estate is to blame there, no doubt. I don’t lay to much on the hunters, provided, they weren’t using some form of cruel capture device, or running an animal to death. As far as hunting goes, I don’t deem it an evil sport at all. And while, not all hunts are the same, hunting for deer here in the states, is a very satisfying sport. Deer meat is excellent, and better for you than most meats actually. And I can even appreciate the idea of wanting a mount of an animal, as a reward for a specific hunt. HOWEVER, there are exceptions to that, that I do hold very dear.
First of all, we have a limit on our annual licenses. So you can only take so many deer, per year. Secondly, you can’t use electronic devices, such as recordings to lure deer in, OR, radio’s to let your buddy know there is a deer coming his way. Plus, I know this isn’t true in all areas, but where I live, you can’t use dogs to run or track deer. You can’t hunt at night, or with any sort of spot light. You have to be out in the woods, not next to a road. Point being, it’s very strictly regulated. And a game warden can show up on you, whenever he likes, and give you a good going over. If you break any of the laws, he can sieze your gun, car, as well as fine you or even jail you.
As far as the actual death of the animal goes, most of the hunters I know, take great pride in getting an instantaneous death. Mostly because we’re too lazy to want to track a dying deer through the woods for 3 hours. But to me that’s just as humane as sending a cow to a slaughter house, where I understand those deaths can be gruesome, and brutal. And I have never known any of my friends who hunt, who are JUST about getting a deer head on their wall. They’ve all been avid deer meat eaters, so no useless slaughter, without cause of reason. Sure, there are some who do it, but it’s not as common as it might seem.
Now that just applies to deer. Killing other animals, is just pointless. I can understand pest animals, for example, feral pigs in austrailia. They aren’t native to the country, and they destroy land and habitat that other natural species need. Or a farmer, who is trying to protect his crops (animals) from invader animals. My boss raises show rabbits, and ducks, and he had to shoot a bobcat that kept raiding his pens. I have no problem with that. But people who do rattlesnake round ups, or go out and kill great white sharks, just for the sake of saying they killed one, is just wrong. I’m totally against that.
Unfortunately, habitat for animals is decreasing at a rapid rate. Where I live, I still see deer on the sides of the road wanting to cross, or worse yet, see them laying dead on the side of the road. I’ve actually hit one, once, and we’re talking 2 minutes from my house. And I don’t live out in the country mind you, I live 20 mins from Atlanta GA, which is a huge city, here in the south eastern US. And if it weren’t for hunters, it would be even worse!!I don’t think we should erradicate the species, but there has to be a balance to it.
Of course, my favorite activity when going hunting, is watching the other animals I see when I go. I once had two armidillos chasing each other, nearly climb on top of me, and they would have had I not moved and scared them off. I’ve also had a wood pecker, sit in the tree about 8 feet from me, and work on his house. That was cool to see. I get a bigger kick out of being out in the woods, than actually pulling my gun up to kill something. And most of the hunters I know, feel pretty much the same way. Like I said, I’ve never actually killed a deer in my trips. I’ve seen 3, but they were Doe’s and it was a non doe day (another biggie rule). But I also haven’t been hunting in 3 years, almost 4 now. It’s just not something I’m looking forward to every year, like some people are. I’d rather sit at home and watch hockey….or better yet, meerkat manor on Friday nights. :)
I know Animal Planet isn’t a money grubbing entity. And I also know they’ve done a lot more good with animals, vs. bad. And it’s not to say that they’ve really done anything “bad” with the meerkats. But I pay my cable bill every month. Animal planet gets a piece of that. So I’m paying them for a quality product. So when they have a show on their channel, they should scrutinize the production company and have them put forth a quality show. Them calling Shakespeare an uncle to Mitch, that’s a forgivable mistake, because as I’ve said before, in a sense, he could almost be that. But calling Mitch Flower’s grandson, is just flat out negligent. Couple that with some of the other “inperfections” others have pointed out, and it’s like we’re paying some high schoolers to put on a play. mistakes are expected in that situation. Not on a professional, world wide television program. I’ll still watch the meerkats, until I have my own meerkat habitat, on the east coast, like Pam has out on the west coast. But that day is a long ways off, if ever, so til then, I’m happy that we just get to see the little buggers.
WOW…seems I have missed quite a bit! I have had a great deal of trouble getting back on the site since I posted the letter from Prof. Flower…and yes I do believe that Flower is his namesake! After I received his email this morning, I also received a reply from Alex Thornton…another of the researchers that works directly with our little guys. Alex brought a little hope into the picture about Shakey though…I won’t spoil it I will allow you guys to read Alex’s letter too. I believe that Alex explains the way AP films more thouroughly than Prof. Flower did…both the letter helped me understand better..and something that we have to remember guys when we get really down on Animal Planet is that they took a HUGE chance by running Meerkat Manor…who would have ever believed that this show would have been bigger than Desperate Housewives or CSI for goodness sakes. I sometime have to stop and check myself for being so darn attached to them, but you know what I didn’t even know what a Meerkat was before AP ran this show. I suspect that we will see more intense storylines, and that in the future AP will do everything they can to ensure that they are able to answer the cliffhangers. As both Professors said however, no matter how much we love them, they are still wild animals and we cannot know everything a wild animal does. I will continue to keep in touch with both professors, and let you guys know whatever inside scoop they give me…lol…I do love the fact that I see so much vitality and enthusiasm about wildlife as a whole…I think it is time that we all do what Terri Irwin asked us to do in her interview with Barbara Walters…”let’s all dedicate ourselves to saving wildlife…we should all be “WILDLIFE WARRIORS”….and whether it is saving Meerkats in Africa, Cougars in North America, or that dog across the street that no one wants anymore…let’s just do it..let’s get’em…let’s all be Wildlife Warriors!!! See you guys later…letter is in next post!!
Here is the letter from Alex Thornton of Cambridge:
Dear Deidre,
I’m sorry I have taken so long to get back to you. I am very happy to hear that you have enjoyed watching Meerkat Manor. I do my research at the field site where the programme is filmed and have got to know the various film crews pretty well. The crews come out in groups of two (one camera man and
one sound assistant) for six week stints. They spend practically the whole time with Whiskers, one of the fourteen groups of habituated meerkats on the reserve. I don’t know much about how the programme is put together and edited, but the sequences shown in the episodes I have seen are all footage of things that actually happened. I was collecting data on Whiskers on the day Shakespeare was bitten and called the film crew over to have a look when the group started mobbing a puff adder. Shakespeare looked pretty bad
after the bite (puff adder bites can be fatal to humans), but eventually recovered, as they showed on the programme. Because they are wild animals, it is impossible to know for certain what happens to all of them. Sometimes individuals disappear and it is very difficult to know whether they were
predated or joined another group. Shakespeare disappeared from Whiskers some time after he recovered from the snake bite. It is possible that he has become dominant in an unhabituated group outside our reserve (an individual of his size has been seen in one of the neighbouring groups),
but we can’t say for certain if it is Shakespeare. I suppose Meerkat Manor didn’t go into Shakespeare’s fate for the simple reason that we don’t honestly know what his fate was. The same is true of Tosca.
I hope that this clears things up a little. I’m sorry I can’t give you more specific information on Shakespeare or Tosca, but that is the nature of working with animals. I hope you enjoy the new series.
All the best,
Alex
–
Alex Thornton
Large Animal Research Group
Department of Zoology
University of Cambridge
Cambridge
Deidre,
Thank you for your persistance with the researchers. I guess what has stood out the most in your two letters back, as well as the Today Show clip is that AP really “doesn’t know” what happened to Shakespeare. I guess as they’re so small, it’s easy to assume the worst, hence why they’ve given us the explanation on the show, that it was pressumed that he and Tosca died. But I have enough in my life to be pesismistic about, so I’m going to go the positive route and hope that they both joined up with other gangs, and that they’re alive and well. Thanks again for your posts, it’s so interesting to read from the actual researchers. And I think it’s really cool, that we now know how Flower got her name!!!
Mel, Steph, Deidre and all
So from Flowers letter he is saying the last episode was not Shakespeare and was based on factual information from studies on Meerkats. That is why the meerkat in the borough had no marks as it was not Shakespeare to begin with, am I reading him correctly. That would explain why they never just said Shakespeare was killed in the Borough that would be untrue, and by explaining the way they have they are correct and do not have to say the last time we saw Shakespeare was the day before the Lazuli were in the area.
OK that I can believe especially with T. Flowers opening comment and his saying the film producers were stuck and probably drew inspiration…
We have been asking the wrong questions. Did the Lazuli really attack the borough, if so,
was this the day after Shakespeare was last seen? It seems so, but that does not sell so by adding Shakes to the last show and leaving it up in the air they get their cliffhanger and are still telling an “accurate” meerkat story. Note they are doing the same in the last episode of this season (a meerkat and her pups are attacked).
Tom Flowers letter was very refreshing, it appears to tell the true and it seemed to me he wanted to tell us if we knew what the attrition rate looked like we would have been more accepting of Shakes fate.
“You want the truth……you can’t handle the truth”.
He must be a Jack Nickelson fan.
Oh Deidre if T. Flowers does get back to you mention that they should set up some of the cameras as WEB Cams so we can see them.
Hi there
Yes Machine, I would agree that the kind of hunting you are talking about sounds ok. I can imagine the hunters taking pride in killing the animal in one fell swoop and it’s good to hear that they often eat the meat as well. I would also agree that ending life in a slaughterhouse is a far less dignified end. As a non meat eater since I was a 17-year-old university student, I would like to see better living and dying conditions for these animals.
The kind of hunting I was more talking about is the type we used to see in the UK. I am of course really mainly only talking about fox hunting where the so-called hunters ride out on horseback with a pack of dogs. This has now been banned in the UK, or rather, it has apparently been banned in that they are not allowed to chase or kill the fox, though quite honestly, who’s there to know if they do most of the time? The hunts sometimes go astray onto private property and occasionally the hounds have killed a cat or small dog that’s crossed their path. Hunting birds on a licensed shoot is still permitted in the UK. Most people don’t tend to have guns in this country and most of those that do are probably holding them illegally anyway!
The canned hunting I mentioned is a practice whereby animals such as lions, tigers, cheetahs etc are captured and bred from, the cubs are taken from their natural mothers and hand raised so they are effectively tame. Once they reach adulthood however, bang crash wallop: the so-called hunters (who are nothing like you or your friends, I am sure) are allowed into an enclosed space to “hunt” these animals who are obviously no more afraid of them than your pet cat or dog. That isn’t hunting and it isn’t sport, hence a lot of animal welfare organisations, such as Born Free here in the UK, are trying to have this evil activity banned.
Thanks Deidre for the other letter. I too feel slightly more hopeful that Shakespeare and perhaps even Tosca, may still be living somewhere now. In a way, not knowing is quite comforting since it allows us a little glimmer of hope, doesn’t it? It’s certainly fascinating to hear from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Thanks for all your efforts. I agree that the TV producers have left a little to be desired with getting the names wrong etc, but basically, I still love the show. I suppose the “Uncle Shakespeare” thing could be forgiven as we sometimes call people our uncles and aunts who in actual real terms aren’t even related to us, don’t we?
I too keep rabbits and I wouldn’t want predators hanging around after them, though they are securely housed so only human error, such as leaving a gate open, would allow them access. As I say, we don’t tend to have guns so shooting an unwanted hanger-on isn’t an option, though I would probably let my dogs out in order to chase it away!!
If we are to assume that the information in the Alex Thornton letter is correct it wasn’t Shakespeare who defended the pups in the den from the Lazuli. “Shakespeare disappeared from Whiskers some time after he recovered from the snake bite”. And if the programs are put together in sequence, and are not spliced together to create a story then we can infer that it was a substitute Shakespeare that defended the pups! Our sharp-eyed viewers were correct!
In Professor Flower’s(!) letter, he says that Shakespeare was the babysitter “the day before”, presumably the day of the attack, so if that is the case, he must have either disappeared later that same day or the day of the attack itself. That surely stands to reason?
You know folks..at the risk of making the hurt over Shakespeare even worse…I have asked the question of both our “insiders” that we surely all are wondering…”Tell me the “even more than was shown” things that Shakespeare did to set him so far above the rest!!! I am also asking whether there would be any way to check the meerkat that Alex mentioned in his letter that may be Shakespeare in a group outside the research area to see if he bears any scars (i.e., puff ader bite on that back left leg) that could identify him as our little guy and answer the question once and for all. Will forward any responses!! (And I MUST say it….call me an eternal optimist or really very trusting…but I have no reason to believe that anything these very busy researchers have been so kind to take their time to inform us of could be anything but factual. I know that we all appreciate their taking their time to write such informative letters.)
Here Here and thanks again Deidre. Keep us posted as I’m sure you will!
Thank you, Deidre! Your posts mean so much to us and we appreciate all the time you have spent pursuing this. I think we CAN “handle the truth”. :)
And thank you, Mel! Your Season 2 episode recaps are great. I rarely post, but I read the posts every day.
So what meerkat defended the pups against the Lazuli in the last show of the first season? Another Shakespeare?
Wow Deidre. Thank you so very much for working so hard to clear up the mystery. I admit I, along with everyone else, got so attached to Shakespeare last season. I hope he survived in that other group, but at least I have a better understanding of what could have happened. It just didn’t seem to make sense to me that the pups would survive but he would disappear. But if the researchers weren’t even there that day, it makes a lot more sense. Thanks again
Suzanne, I am thinking the same thing. Alex says what Sarah said back in 312. Shakes survived the snake bite and left on his own. Never mentioning the fight.
And Flower’s letter says Shakes dissappeared and “The film producers WERE STUCK and probably drew inspiration from an incident at two other groups in the population of over 250 meerkats, where a meerkat was killed defending pups successfully.”
AP is a wonderful network helping animals everywhere, I love it I watch it all the time. However they are professionals and we expect a quality product.
I am sure all the information about the meerkats is factual. But since they can’t keep up with them all, as Flower says some of the storyline is “inspired”.
Thank you Deidre, Mel, Machine, Suzanne, everyone, all you guys are great!
Thanks so much Deidre for getting this information and posting your emails.
Yes, it’s nice that we have a bit
of hope about Shakespeare and it’s comforting to think of him perhaps strutting his stuff somewhere and performing the heroics from which he gained so much
fame and popularity. Perhaps he left, perhaps he died, we will probably never truly know, but it’s better that way sometimes. One thing seems to be more
certain though, Sarah claims that Tosca is still a subordinate female in the Whiskers group, which is definitely not true. So I would rather draw my conclusions
from both the letters Deidre posted than from anything Sarah apparently had to say. Long live the Whiskers!!!
For the people in the U.S., “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” on MSNBC had a small piece on MM and “the fate of Shakespeare” this evening. It takes up the last three minutes of the show and has clips from MM as well as the reporter visiting the meerkat sanctuary in California. It repeats at 9:00 PDT and midnight EDT. No new information given.
Fay
Thanks for the tip I am watching it now. Lets see if they agree with T. Flowers.
Maren Smith..same story they don’t know what happened.
Same family interview as the today show, but the fat meerkats in the CA. zoo are cute.
Fay
You should have said yes to the interveiw, I wonder how many other shows will pick it up. I see that Lynn Smith’s column was in more than just the LA Times. Did she ever mention how many papers her column is in?
How do we know Tosca is not one of the many that AP doesn’t name and we never meet?
Steph
Are you asking if Tosca may not be in the UK Series or just a meerkat that may be overlooked by Season 2. They did mention her absense (like Shakes) over the winter.
Steph
They said she had disappeared over the winter. I think it’s a case like with Shakes, they don’t know 100% but she is no longer around and it isn’t likely she could survive alone throughout the harsh winter with nobody to help keep her warm or to keep watch while she foraged, especially at a time when there is such a shortage of food. I don’t think females are usually accepted into other groups, a male might take over as the dominant one, but I don’t this is true of females. She could just have been chased far far away out of the study area, though I doubt that as they cover quite a wide area in meerkat travelling ability terms I think. Unfortunately, I think we do have to kind of accept that even if Shakes is still around somewhere else, Tosca probably isn’t. But we said we could handle the truth! The truth may be not knowing but at the end of the day, the odds in favour of her survival are stacked against her I think. Poor Tosca.
With all this hope for Shakes, I was holding some for Tosca too.
Steph
It is to bad, but it is Spring in South Africa so both have been missing for 2 winters now. I think Tom Flower’s comment about the “truth” has more to it than a joke. When I read his comment I thought it was odd he would say that unless they were very aware of the high attrition rate amount meerkats in the area.
Sorry Steph but I believe both are gone but we do have the family and I am sure that’s why Flower (the meerkat) keeps on having so many litters.
Hey Folks,
Does anyone remember what the name of the journalist that wanted to interview some of us was? I can’t find it in the posts. I really would like her to talk to some of us…seems the other forums I can find about the show is filled with very, very young fans. From what I have found on the web, our’s is the site with the most information and the most informative subject matter. Thank goodness we have not gone on to take a poll of “which meerkat we would want to be” as they have on AP’s site. LOL Still awaiting a response to my additional questions to the researchers. Take Care!!
Deidre: Her name is Lynn Smith. You can reach her at:
lynn.smith@latimes.com
I don’t think there’s any harm in giving out her e-mail address because I got it from the Times with no problem.
Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to be Flower that’s for sure, having all those kids and being charged with the responsibility of keeping that lot in order!!!!
Steph
I know, I think we all hoped for a brighter outcome to our questions over Shakes and Tosca. They have such hard lives really and nature can be very cruel. I’m not sure Mozart won’t get herself kicked out before the end of the sries, though I only have 3 episodes left to watch now I think and I have read through the listings on AP before
, but I can’t remember what they had to say, if anything, on that subject, though I know the final episode ends up in a battle – again!
Oh, I see Mozart and her pups are abandoned in the last episode.
somebody said that there has been two winters since the disappearance of the duo of shases and tosca….i thought there has only been one. anyway, is it possible that tosca was with shakes when they went out foraging and got cut off from thre others and went there own way? really holding on for some great news about the two….it could have happened, right? Shakespeare is the shizzle!!!!
Does anyone know how a new mob gets started? It just doesn’t make any sense to me that many of these evicted females are shunned forever. Since there is no inbreeding these new mob/families have to start somehow. You would think that an evicted female and a roving male would routinely start mobs. According to thenarrator on the show, rarely do roving males stay with evicted females. Case in point, Youssarian left Pancake. Carlos left Tosca. What becomes of all of these ’single’ meerkats?
I don’t think I can stand to watch another evicted female (Mozart), especially if she has pups. No one to babysit while she forages. No one to watch for predators, etc.
From what I have read the males take up with single females and stay together althought we have not been shown the taking up but not the staying as of yet.
My guess is there would have to be a source of food for them to stay and raise a family and for that to happen something would have to happen to an existing Mob.
Earlier posting here seemed to agree that this happens. I guess the 2002 National Geographic Doc. on meerkats showed over a 90% attrition rate by the end of their film. This made me think of Tom Flowers opening remark about the “Truth”
I wonder what the critical mass is to sustain a Mob 7 to 12 maybe?????
Correction on 424.
I meant…. we have been shown the taking up, but not the staying together as of yet. sorry
That is the only ficture the AP site has that I like, the ability to go back and edit your posting.
Mel
While I think of it I want to thank you again for the updates on each of the episodes. After the first two here in the states the other night I was thinking if I had to run to my computor know and relay what happened in the detail you ha
Mel
Thanks again for your updates of the shows. After the first viewing here in the states I wondered how you could remember all the details. Old age on my part I guess.
Cheers
Mel
Don’t know how I managed the above #426.
Stone cold sobber honest. I must studder when I type.
yeah, yeah, stone cold sober!!
I do struggle to remember the details sometimes and as I am watching it, I try to make a mental note of the main threads of the story, though sometimes I probably get them in the wrong order and have to think again!
I’m not really sure how new mobs start. We have a case in point at the moment, not of one starting but of one possibly finishing? I am of course talking about the Lazuli. The dominant male is gone and so far Cazanna hasn’t mated again. She lost one of the pup’s from Cy’s last litter too. However, there is of course Pancake to keep numbers up with her litter and I think in episode 9 or 10, it did say that 2 other subordinate femals in the Lazuli are pregnant. I am wondering if one way a new mob could start is like what’s happened several times in MM so far: a big gang becomes separated and sometimes they never find one another again. After all, it was more than a week on the most recent occasion in the show when this occurred and it was only by chance that they met up again, they don’t go looking for one another – or not that we know of anyway. There were about a dozen in Flower’s splinter group and they were just about managing to survive. If they hadn’t bumped into the rest of their family, I suspect both would have carried on, the larger group appointing a new dominant female perhaps?
I’m really sorry Pat but the write-up for the last episode of series 2 does say that Mozart is out in the cold with a litter of pups and no one to babysit and all that. I’m not looking forward to that part either!
Yo
I’m a rover from the AP US site.
My eyes are hurting from reading so many posts. The talk here is a little less eh, theatrical or perhaps mature.
Any ways a few meerkat facts for you nuturers.
The dominent female always kicks an adult female out of the gang when she becomes pregnant. Its sort of a birth control practice to prevent another female (of age) becoming pregnant and having pups the same time as her thus ensuring her own pups will be given “quality” care and will be more likely to survive. There “is” some research somewhere to support this. Mama Flower is not doing anything cruel or unnatural. It’s her instinct. It’s not because she liked Tosca or Mozart or Daisy better.
Its a hard life being a meerkat.
Pronker –> Go Youssarian! And what about Stinker! The stinker.
Thanks Mel for the update.
I know I sound like a child wanting everything to end ‘happily ever after’.
I’ll just keeep on watching and enjoying the cute things they do. And they do some really cute things.
There’s nothing wrong with wishing for a happy ending!
Hey Guys…did Pronkers call US immature????? LOL
Just to set Pronkers straight the dominate female does NOT always evict a pregnate female as we saw in the first season.
Deidre
No just the opposite he is calling us mature, (gee just like Machine), but he writes in a Brooklyn accent….just kidding you Pronkers good to have you just keep this site to yourself so we are not inundated with smiley faces.
It’s kind of at the discretion of the dominant female at the time as to whether she allows a pregnant female to stay. It’s not discretion as we know it of course, it’s hormones probably, and instinct to ensure the survival of her litter above all. But as Walter so rightly pointed out, this is not always the case as we learnt in series 1, where Flower allowed Mozart, Tosca and Daisy to keep their pups, though Daisy didn’t end up keeping hers I know. It’s also sometimes partly the fault of the other pregnant female too, as in Mozart’s case in series too, again not due to anything vaguely attributable to human characteristics, probably her hormones too; but she gets a bit above her station when she banishes Daisy for reasons only known to herself! I’m not saying that’s why Mozart is banished this time, as that hasn’t been shown yet, but we see the start of things going wrong I think, when this occurs as Flower gives her a definite warning. Whether she heeds that warning, we have yet to discover of course!
Yo
Roving female here from Philly. (pronk, pronk)
Here’s a url for that bit about the dominent female kicking out another female.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060808091758.htm
Ok, it does say “commonly” not “always”.
And of course ewe guys are much more mature in this Nighy mob. The AP US gang is way to heavy on the smilies and angries and Shakespeare isn’t dead!
I prefer a more sedate and happy group of buggers (meerkat slang for good people.)
Pronker –> but then I am a rover…
You aren’t Carlos personified, are you?!
Pronker
Eagles Fan?? fooball not the bird.
That was surposed to be football
Interesting article on female meerkats.
The dominant Lazuli male is gone and Cazanna hasn’t mated and 2 subordinate females are pregnant. This is only one case, but maybe it works both ways she will allow the subordinate’s pups until she has a litter of her own.
Drunk again Walter …!!!
HA HA HA….Brooklyn accent. Too rich, considering I’m from jawjah (a.k.a.) Georgia.
Mature are we? My oldest son was 14 yesterday and it’s making me feel so bloody old, I can tell you!!!!!!! I wouldn’t say mature though!!!!!!
Yo
Hm, Carlina’s not a bad name, eh, hehe!
Yikes… Eagles and Falcons, oh my! Throw a T.O. in there and we’d have our own soap opera.
Mel the dominent female, has to control
Machine the jawah (aka alien kat from Tatooine)
Walter with some lush typos
Carlina the pronking rover
And the juvenilles: Deidre the inquisitive, Pat the sensitive one and Chris the shizzle(r?)
Sorry, I think the Roos are pronking in the top paddock today. It is Friday afterall (in the US anyways.)
Tune in for the fate of Big Bill.
Pronker
Thanks Pronker! You’d all better watch out then!
It’s Friday here too you know … for a few more hours anyway!
Atimon
Where are you? I hope you are ok? Any news of when they will be showing series 2 in Germany yet?
LOL…Pronker, glad you roved on over to our site…I haven’t been called a juvee in years..lol!! I can tell you are going to add some spice to the board. Like Walt said though…be sure and keep us a secret so we don’t have any challenges to play “meerkat maze”. (((biggrin))) You know guys I wonder why it is that rovering males like Carlos can survive alone and females can’t. If you look at Flower she seems just as tough as any of the guys…my point of course being…if Carlos has survived then who’s to say our little Tosca isn’t alive and well out there…maybe even has her own little troop started up somewhere….((just one of those “things that make you go HUMMMMM)))) Little added note of interest…I don’t live very far from “The Little Zoo That Could” in Gulf Shores, AL and I just talked with Patti Hall the Director there today to see if they would consider acquiring a meerkat group if I sponsored them. She is researching and going to let me know if it can be done. I may be able to see the little guys for real soon…I hope!!!!! Keep your fingers crossed for us!! Take Care All!!!
Yo
Sad, sad, sad the picture of Cazanna Lazuli with her body wrapped around her remaining pup, Squeak, comforting, mourning, resting, consoling, perhaps remembering the protection of Big Si. That scene with the cries of Bubble is a well of reality among meerkats.
I don’t think Prof. Flower was kidding when he said we couldn’t take the truth.
Grrrrrrrr on Nikta and Hannibal.
Sigh, I know they are just doing what comes naturally.
Poor little Marilyn to be faced with such a dilemma alone. Perhaps she thought they would chase her and leave the pups alone.
And hey did I really see Einstein run to the camera when he couldn’t get that egg to crack like he was saying – yo dude you could get this thing open for me. LOL! They are smart little buggers.
Isn’t mama Mel asleep, pronk, pronk!
Who do you think she’d pick for her dominent male? Maybe Big Bill?
Aww on the commercial for next week they called Mozart the princess, will she follow her head or her heart.
Sodheim? I thought his name was Stinker? LOL!
Good luck getting a mob for The Little Zoo That Could”
And I think the males just go home after a bit. Youssarian got a beating from Zaphod when he came back after roving.
Pronker
Heh, Pronk…you’re cracking me up!! Alien Kat eh?
Hail Hail to Mel!! Gotta stay on the bosses good side.
Deidre,
To answer your question about roving males and females. Roving males are allowed to go back into their respective groups when they’re tired of checking out the neighboring ladies. Ousted females aren’t. That’s the biggest difference. However, we can still hold out hope that Tosca, hooked up with someone and did her own thing.
That’s cool about The Little Zoo that Could. Next time you talk to her, tell her I might be willing to help out as well. Since I live in GA, I would even be willing to come down and volunteer also. Just let me know.
Mel
No I manage all those typos without any external help. So is Monday the last episode in the UK or do you have another week.
Pronker
Thought you said Philly as in PA. Georgia is excellent state with much nicer winters then Penn, I have worked near Flint River and Atlanta.
Hey Pronker (Carlina!!)
What I want to know is … who is the dominant male … LOL!
We have 3 episodes here in the UK, obviously 2 on Monday and the odd one the following week. Not sure what they will do to fill in the extra half hour (probably start repeating the series again!).
LOL, Kinda wonderin’ that myself.
Mel,
don’t worry, I am still here and reading your reports on the latest episodes. I just don’t have much to say, since I haven’t recieved any other news about when the second season will be shown here in Germany.
They told me end of this year, beginning of the next year there might be a chance to see the new episodes, but I guess that will be when the third season might already be running in the UK, who knows… so.. I am far behind all of you and have nothing left at the moment except of your reports and feedbacks on the latest episodes, hoping that nothing will