Meerkat Manor
Meerkat Manor is a British television programme produced by Oxford Scientific Films for Animal Planet International that premiered in September 2005 and ran for four series until its cancellation in August 2008. Blending more traditional animal documentary style footage with dramatic narration, the series told the story of the Whiskers, one of more than a dozen families of meerkats in the Kalahari Desert being studied as part of the Kalahari Meerkat Project, a long-term field study into the ecological causes and evolutionary consequences of the cooperative nature of meerkats. The original programme was narrated by Bill Nighy, with the narration redubbed by Mike Goldman for the Australian airings and Sean Astin for the American broadcasts. The fourth series, subtitled The Next Generation, saw Stockard Channing replacing Astin as the narrator in the American dubbing.
Cast: Bill Nighy, Stockard Channing, Sean Astin
13 episodes
1. A Family AffairFlower, as the dominant female of the group, has a lot to worry about, including her wounded son, Shakespeare, rivals, and her children's affiliation with the rivals.PGCCJun 9, 2006
2. Love Thy NeighborAfter being bitten by a puff adder, Shakespeare continues his struggle to survive. Carlos, a male from a rival family, threatens Flower's pups. The Whiskers have a territorial dispute with the Lazuli family. Daisy becomes overly friendly with Carlos.PGCCJun 9, 2006
3. Some Like It HotFlower's daughter has pups, making the Whiskers a family of 37. Flower must decide whether to keep all the pups or allow them to die so her own litter can survive. While searching for food, the wounded Shakespeare becomes separated from the group.PGCCJun 16, 2006
4. RevolutionSurvival takes center stage following Youssarian's decision to move the family from the burrow. To add to the problem, a thunderstorm threatens the family.PGCCJun 23, 2006
5. Childhood's EndMozart is evicted from the Whiskers family by Flower, and she is forced to leave her pups behind. Territorial drama ensues when the family takes shelter from the storm in one of the burrows formerly inhabited by the Lazuli family.PGCCJun 30, 2006
6. Boys Will Be BoysMitch becomes sick after he steals poisonous insects from his siblings. Mozart is given a reprieve and is allowed to return to Meerkat Manor after her eviction.PGCCJul 7, 2006
7. Divided LoyaltiesThe Whiskers family gets separated when they go out foraging for the first time since they became a party of 40. The rival Lazuli tribe continues to cause problems.PGCCJul 14, 2006
8. The Good, the Bad and the DesperateNow that the Whiskers have split into two groups, the struggle for survival gets more intense. Daisy and Tosca begin a rivalry, but Flower solves the problem by evicting Tosca from Meerkat Manor.PGCCJul 21, 2006
9. Daisy's ChoiceAs the Whiskers family is finally recovering from the split, more problems are created when Daisy gives birth to her pups in the wrong burrow and she needs help. Youssarian goes to her rescue.PGCCJul 28, 2006
10. Flower PowerTwo young male meerkats are in charge of Meerkat Manor when Flower has a new litter of pups. Evicted Tosca attempts to rejoin Whiskers. While the Whiskers are out foraging, they come across a burrow belonging to their enemies, the Lazuli, with a litter of small pups.PGCCAug 4, 2006
11. An Awfully Big AdventureFlower's new litter ventures outside for the first time to learn about the world they inhabit in the Kalahari, but since they are Flower's pups, just about all of the adults are on guard.PGCCAug 11, 2006
12. The Calm Before the StormEvicted Tosca realizes she probably will not be allowed to return to Meerkat Manor, so she considers starting a group of her own. Flower leaves Shakespeare in charge when she leads the family on a search for food.PGCCAug 18, 2006
13. Moving OnWhen the Whiskers family returns from foraging, they must fight off an attack by the Lazuli family rivals. The pups are safe, but Shakespeare has disappeared.PGCCAug 25, 2006
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Meerkat Manor
Meerkat Manor is a British television programme produced by Oxford Scientific Films for Animal Planet International that premiered in September 2005 and ran for four series until its cancellation in August 2008. Blending more traditional animal documentary style footage with dramatic narration, the series told the story of the Whiskers, one of more than a dozen families of meerkats in the Kalahari Desert being studied as part of the Kalahari Meerkat Project, a long-term field study into the ecological causes and evolutionary consequences of the cooperative nature of meerkats. The original programme was narrated by Bill Nighy, with the narration redubbed by Mike Goldman for the Australian airings and Sean Astin for the American broadcasts. The fourth series, subtitled The Next Generation, saw Stockard Channing replacing Astin as the narrator in the American dubbing.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- Caroline Hawkins
- Studio
- Oxford Scientific Films
Maturity rating
PGCheck the rating before watching with younger viewers.
