In the Kalahari Desert you will find a group of about 40 meerkats known as the Whiskers. These 30cm furry little creatures have a "home" of approxamately 3 kms squared territory, which they protect and defend with their lives. They have about 25 burrows or boltholes scattered around this 3kms which they use as their "digs".
Meerkat Manor is a "soapie" shown on Animal Planet, channel 67 for South African viewers. It is televised at 12.40 pm on Mondays and repeated at 12.40 am the same "day", and again on Fridays at the same times.
This programme is narrated by Bill Nighy. Watching this programme, one can't help feel that without Bill Nighy's narration, it just wouldn't have the same effect. But the narration fits in perfectly with all the happenings that surround these little creatures.
When you listen to Bill Nighy narrating an episode, you will laugh at the way he accents on certain things, like the Cape Cobra. This becomes the Cape Cobra. He accents the C's in a way that you cannot help but laugh. "No one wants to share their territory with a cobra."
His voice changes to suit the situation. For instance, "It's the Lazzulii." Lazuli being said in a deep sinister voice. The Lazuli are the Whiskers arch enemies. One can almost picture this guys eyes closing into slits as he tells you the Whiskers have come face to face with the Lazuli. LOL
Each episode has something in it that has been named. For instance, the watering hole is known as the "pub" or the "country club".
"The gang have headed to the watering hole for a drink. But they not the only ones who fancy a tipple. At the country club some guests have arrived before the gang."
Their burrows are known as the "digs".
"It is early morning and while some of the gang are sitting outside the digs warming their little bodies in the Kalahari sun, the others are busy doing housekeeping. Joining a line, they sweep out the excess sand from thedigs."
Practising "safe sex" means the meerkats are getting it on underneath a tree safe from the eagle who might just be hovering around waiting for a meerkat meal. LOL
The male meerkats who leave the group in search of a lady kat to mate with, are generally known as playing "roving roulette". The male meerkat is usually risking his life when he looks for a female from another group. The males from the enemy group will fight the intruding male to the death if they need to. They don't mate with any of the females in their own group.
In the next blog I will introduced the kats from the Whiskers group.
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