Meerkat Manor

[KristiB]

Is anyone else watching this show on Animal Planet. Yeah I know they're anthropomorphizing animals but they're just so cute and I'm all caught up in the Whiskers gang's dramas!

I hope Shakespeare survives his puff adder bites :'(

[laurelhiker]

I watched the first episode and thought it was just adorable! I have a difficult time watching nature-related shows that feature death or violence, so I am really taking Shakespeare's snake bite to heart. Of course, I cried during March of the Penguins, so I'm a soft touch when it comes to these things. I know that the reality is that the animal world is cold and cruel and that animals suffer pain and loss just like humans do. But I don't have to like it.

If Shakespeare pulls through, I will continue to watch. If not, I'll have to pass; I just don't have the stomach for it.

I don't know if you caught the monkey show (similar in theme to Meerkat Manor) in Thailand - I think it aired right after MM. That was pretty cute as well. :)

-- GG

[KristiB]

I know what you mean about animal death scenes...if they wouldn't make you get attached to the animals first it would be easier.

I could never be a wildlife biologist. I'd be rescuing animals right and left. Little Shakespeare would be at the vet if I were the cameraman.

Anyway I think the camerawork is fantastic and I would like to see how it's all done without scaring the meerkats.

[laurelhiker]

According to Animal Planet's Meerkat Manor website, fiber-obtic cameras are used. Honestly, I have no idea what that means! :D

There are also profiles of the "characters", which seem to contain some potential "spoilers" for future episodes (but who knows).

I think I'll keep watching :)

-- GG

[KristiB]

According to Animal Planet's Meerkat Manor website, fiber-obtic cameras are used. Honestly, I have no idea what that means! :D



-- GG

I think the fiber optic ones are the underground cameras??? I'm talking about the scenes where they 're running, playing and foraging. I'll go to AP's website.

[laurelhiker]

The website said they built sheds for the humans. I wonder if any of the Whiskers got curious and peeked inside :)

-- GG

[BarbaraL]

I happened to catch this last week, and enjoyed it. I'm also worried about Shakespeare; poor little thing! And his sister who stayed with him, how cute. I also missed whether Daisy killed her daughter's babies, or just fought with the daughter (I was multi-tasking). Anyone know when this is on again?

[Blissful_in_TX]

Oh man! They had sent me a sneak preview DVD in the mail a couple weeks ago, I finally get around to watching it last night, and then they stop right after the teenagers take off with one of the babies and abandon him! Hopefully I can catch one of the repeats.

[KristiB]

They play them quite a bit.

I must see what happens to poor little Shakespeare :(

[Arete]

I've never seen the show, but I must say that listening to all of you talk about it makes it sound like one of the reality TV shows... which it kind of IS, I guess! :D Only I think this show is a whole lot less scripted than most reality TV shows!

I'll have to keep my eyes open for a rerun of it.

[BarbaraL]

I saw an commercial last night that said Meerkat Manor would be on Friday at 8pm on Animal Planet.

[KristiB]

Yep! I have it season passed on TiVo now!

It is like a reality show but these Meerkats are smarter and more interesting than the average reality show star.

Their dramas are similar to ours.

[KristiB]

Darn you Animal Planet! This is as addictive as a soap opera!!!

Yea!!!! It looks like brave little Shakespeare might live!!!

Now crazy Uncle Youssarian on the other hand :mad: :mad: :mad:

I must admit I'm hooked! Gang bangin' meerkats complete with rumbles, gang signs (marking) and illicit affairs - who woulda thought?

BTW all this is dramatized footage from a documentary from the study. In the beginning they show the humans and I guess the documentary is more of that.

I'm hoping for a DVD release with both Meerkat Manor and the scientific documentary.