Kalahari Meerkats

SERIES 1:
The Kalahari Meerkats unites viewers with the Gosa gang, a family of meerkats, struggling to survive in Africa's Kalahari Desert. From territorial battles, to love affairs, these cute animals rarely have a dull moment. On the surface, the meerkats seem like adorable creatures, but do their cute facades mask their true colours? Home for the Gosa gang is a piece of fiercely defended bush within the Tswalu Game Reserve deep in South Africa's Kalahari. These tiny creatures share their home with many others, some of which, such as squirrels, wildebeest and the resident herd of giraffe live peacefully with the meerkats. Others such as snakes and birds of prey are a meerkats worst nightmare. Much of their behaviour has been built around avoiding an attack from these predators. With snakes and birds of prey round every corner, and numerous bloody battles with neighbouring rival gangs of meerktas, this place is not for the faint of heart.

SERIES 2:
Home for the Gosa gang of meerkats is a piece of fiercely defended bush within the Tswalu Game Reserve deep in South Africa's Kalahari.The meerkats share their home with many other animals such as Mrs Squirrel and her family, Midnight Cowboy the wildebeest and the resident herd of giraffe. Most live peacefully with the meerkats but others such as snakes and birds of prey are a meerkats worst nightmare. Much of their behaviour has been built around avoiding an attack from these predators.

The group is a subject of a photographic study by wildlife filmmaker Mags. Mag's camera captures their every move from the moment the gang surfaces in the mornings until they dive back down to cuddle up for another night in their burrow. She has become an honorary member of the group and as a result has an amazing bond with these wild creatures. They regularly jump on her head or on her camera to help them survey the dangerous horizons of their home.

Cleopatra, known as Cleo, is the undisputed leader of the Gosa gang. This mini matriarch rules with an iron fist. She is well respected and has pulled the group through some tough times. At the beginning of this series she plays Mum to her sister, Delilah's pups. Delilah and Cleo had a very turbulent relationship which ended in Cleo evicting her from the group. Cleo was happy to take on her pups as she had been so unsuccessful in having pups of her own. But in a cruel twist of fate one pup, Jock, got lost during a foraging trip and died from dehydration and exhaustion.

Cleo finally gave birth to five tiny pups of her own. She looked after them carefully but unfortunately the kalahari is a harsh and dangerous place and two of them lost their lives early on. Ophelia was the weak one who could not stand up to the Kalahari's force and was eventually taken by a large Goshawk. Daisy was bitten by a snake and her small body could not fight the venom.

The family have moved burrows numerous times due to parasite load and threats by their local meerkat rivals. Brutus is Cleo's partner and has looked after the gang well. His natural ability at security shines through and he has taught Punk to be his second in command. Brutus has led the way into many bloody battles with rival gangs of meerkats.

But towards the end of the series Gandalf, a roving male from the neighbouring gang known as The Rockstars arrived at The Gosa gangs' burrow. He used to be Cleo's alpha male but she cruelly ousted him for another male. This time she takes him back in which threatens Brutus's position and causes tension within the group.

Finally Hutch has reached maturity and it is time for him to head off and find some females in another group that he can mate with. He enjoys his new found freedom and spends a long time wandering the desert doing exactly what he wants. He eventually forms his own group with three others and they set about making a life for themselves in this tough yet rewarding place. (oficjalny tekst dystrybutora)