Meerkat Manor

Meerkat Manor
Seasons	4
Created By	Caroline Hawkins
Main Group	Whiskers
Other Meerkat Groups	Lazuli, Commandos, Zappa, Gattaca, Starsky and Aztecs Stand Ins: Young Ones Mob and Vivian Mob
Episodes	53

Meerkat Manor is a British documentary/drama made by Animal Planet that presents the daily activities of the Whiskers mob, a large meerkat group living in the Kalahari Desert. It records events of the life of the Whiskers family, although it is presented as a soap-opera. It was based on the true life adventures of the Whiskers but some scenes were exaggerated and made up to add some spice to the storyline. It currently has 53 episodes, and 4 seasons. The UK (origional) version was narrated by Bill Nighy, while the US had Sean Astin, who was later replaced by Stockard Channing for the fourth season, and Australia's version was narrated by Mike Goldman (only for season 1 to 3). The US version, however, removed or shortens clips from every episode in the series.

History

Caroline Hawkins created the idea for Meerkat Manor, and soon found a place to film meerkats at the Kalahari Meerkat Project. Filming started in May 2004, the biggest group at the time were the Whiskers, so they became the stars of the to-be show, Meerkat Manor. Filming for the first season took 6/7 months. The first season aired on Animal Planet in UK in September 2005.

During Season 1, we found the Whiskers, with Flower and Zaphod as dominants of the group, and Mozart and Tosca as pregnant subordinate females and Shakespeare who had been bitten by a puff adder. Throughout the season we saw that the Whiskers have two neighbors the Gattaca and the more threatening Lazuli. The end of the season saw Shakespeare saving Flower's pups during a Lazuli burrow raid and Tosca teaming up with Carlos.

The film crew started to film the next season of Meerkat Manor as the first season was airing in the UK. The show was very popular in the UK, since the show was a hit they decided to show it in the US. In June 2006 after filming had ended for Season 2, season 1 aired in the US and Australia. It quickly became popular. Season 2 was aired in the UK and US in September 2006.

At the start of Season 2 we found that Shakespeare and Tosca had both disappeared, and the Whiskers had a new neighbor called the Commandos. Over the course of the season the Whiskers, Lazuli and Commandos had many fights with each other. At the end of the series Mozart had been abandoned to raise her new litter while the Commandos were charging into Whiskers territory.

The crew started filming season 3 in October 2006 and the filming ended in April 2007. Season three aired in US in August and then in the UK in September 2007, while season 2 was being shown in Australia.

At the start of season three we found that the Commandos had forced the Whiskers to leave their old territory and face a new gang called the Zappa. We also found Mozart and Kinkaju had started their own group with Carlos, known as the Starsky. During the season Carlos, Ren, Stumpy, Flower, Whoopie, Kinkajou and Mozart were all killed. Rocket Dog took control of the Whiskers, but her competing sister Maybelline robbed half of the group and started her own gang called the Aztecs.

After the season ended, many fans refused to watch the show anymore due to the sad loss of Flower and Mozart, as well as a few other favorites. But Animal Planet let the film crew film another season. The filming started in October 2007 and went on until March 2008. Season 4 was aired in US in June 2008, but was not shown in UK until April 2009. Meanwhile, in 2008, season 3 was only beginning to air in Australia. The country never saw the season 4 until late 2011 (first shown in abc channel started 15/11/2011 under the UK version only)

At the start of season 4 we found Rocket Dog still in charge of the Whiskers and Maybelline still in charge of the Aztecs. During the season Zaphod and a few other meerkats left the Whiskers and joined the Aztecs. The the Lazuli reappeared as the Aztecs rival while the Whiskers were still competing with the Commandoes, whom lost their infamous dominant male, Hannibal, to disease. At the end of the season we saw Rocket Dog survive a snake-bite, and appears to have a worthy successor in waiting - Mozart's daughter Sophie.

At the start of 2010, The Hub Channel, a new channel owned by Discovery Communications and Hasbro inc, had purchased veiwing rights of Meerkat Manor and on October 10, 2010, the network began showing Meerkat Manor. However, there were no statements about a new season. Although, the filmcrew returned to the Kalahari in August 2010 to begin production on the upcoming movie; 3D Meerkats.

Meerkats

Main Articles:'' List of Meerkat Manor Episodes and Meerkat Manor - Meerkats' Real Names

Movie

Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins tells the story of Flower's early life in the Whiskers and how she rode through the ranks to become dominant female. More information can be found here. There was also Ella: A Meerkat's Tale that told about Baddiel faceing eviction, and must need her courage to get back in her family.

Book

Meerkat Manor: Flower of the Kalahari is a book written by Tim Clutton-Brock that tells the story of Flower, and her family, frrom her birth to her death. More information can be found here.