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Meerkat Manor
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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
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01
A Family AffairJune 9, 2006—Flower, as the dominant female of the group, has a lot to worry about, including her wounded son, Shakespeare, rivals, and her children's af - S01E02
Love Thy NeighborJune 9, 2006—After being bitten by a puff adder, Shakespeare continues his struggle to survive. Carlos, a male from a rival family, threatens Flower's pu - S01E03
Some Like It HotJune 16, 2006—Flower'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 - S01E04
RevolutionJune 23, 2006—Survival takes center stage following Youssarian's decision to move the family from the burrow. To add to the problem, a thunderstorm threat - S01E05
Childhood's EndJune 30, 2006—Mozart is evicted from the Whiskers family by Flower, and she is forced to leave her pups behind. Territorial drama ensues when the family t - S01E06
Boys Will Be BoysJuly 7, 2006—Mitch becomes sick after he steals poisonous insects from his siblings. Mozart is given a reprieve and is allowed to return to Meerkat Manor - S01E07
Divided LoyaltiesJuly 14, 2006—The Whiskers family gets separated when they go out foraging for the first time since they became a party of 40. The rival Lazuli tribe cont - S01E08
The Good, the Bad and the DesperateJuly 21, 2006—Now that the Whiskers have split into two groups, the struggle for survival gets more intense. Daisy and Tosca begin a rivalry, but Flower s - S01E09
Daisy's ChoiceJuly 28, 2006—As the Whiskers family is finally recovering from the split, more problems are created when Daisy gives birth to her pups in the wrong burro - S01E10
Flower PowerAugust 4, 2006—Two young male meerkats are in charge of Meerkat Manor when Flower has a new litter of pups. Evicted Tosca attempts to rejoin Whiskers. Whil - S01E11
An Awfully Big AdventureAugust 11, 2006—Flower'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 p - S01E12
The Calm Before the StormAugust 18, 2006—Evicted Tosca realizes she probably will not be allowed to return to Meerkat Manor, so she considers starting a group of her own. Flower lea - S01E13
Moving OnAugust 25, 2006—When the Whiskers family returns from foraging, they must fight off an attack by the Lazuli family rivals. The pups are safe, but Shakespear
Season02
- S02E01
Cold ComfortSeptember 29, 2006—Season 2 brings winter to Meerkat Manor. The Whiskers did not find Shakespeare after the Lazuli attack and he is presumed dead. Other traged - S02E02
The Three AmigosSeptember 29, 2006—While on their first foraging trip, Flower's new pups are caught out in the open by a gang of war-dancing meerkats. Two of the Whiskers male - S02E03
Young BloodOctober 6, 2006—The Commandoes, a new enemy family, spend the night on the Whiskers territory. A conflict ensues between the Whiskers, the Lazuli and the Co - S02E04
Iron LadyOctober 6, 2006—Flower decides it's time to move because the Whiskers have been at the same burrow for five weeks. She's in no mood for any nonsense due to - S02E05
No Place Like HomeOctober 13, 2006—Mozart, who was evicted from the Whiskers a month earlier, is pregnant. Without the family's support, her pups most likely will die. Flower - S02E06
When Flower Met HannibalOctober 13, 2006—As Mozart's banishment continues, Flower and the pups get into a vicious fight with the Commandoes when the Whiskers get split up. - S02E07
United We StandOctober 20, 2006—Mozart is allowed to return to the family, but there serious consequences ensue when the Whiskers battle with the Commandoes. After three we - S02E08
The Enemy WithinOctober 20, 2006—Youssarian abandons his babysitting duties and leaves Flower's pups alone to face a terrifying rain storm. In an attempt to expand their ter - S02E09
The Art of LeadershipOctober 27, 2006—When the Whiskers are caught raiding their rival's burrow, they are forced to flee with dire consequences. Flower learns one of her daughter - S02E10
Balance of PowerOctober 27, 2006—Big problems evolve at Meerkat Manor because Flower and Mozart are pregnant at the same time. Youssarian is left to babysit Flower's second - S02E11
Growing PainsNovember 3, 2006—Heavy rains leave the Kalahari covered with lush foliage, with tall grasses and beautiful flowers. Although life has never been better for t - S02E12
The GodmotherNovember 10, 2006—Although Flower's newest litter is welcome in the family, Mozart's unborn pups face an uncertain fate. She weighs her options as she tries t - S02E13
The Quiet FieldsNovember 10, 2006—Winter returns to Meerkat Manor. The family has abandoned Mozart, who is trying to take care of her newborn pups. The rival Commandoes force
Season03
- S03E01
On Dangerous GroundAugust 10, 2007—The third season opens with Flower leading the Whiskers gang to better hunting grounds. When they cross into territory claimed by the rival - S03E02
The MissionAugust 17, 2007—After Flower's pups go missing in Zappa territory, Mitch helps to reunite the family and the pups. During his mission, he encounters Mozart - S03E03
Sister ActAugust 24, 2007—The Whiskers are getting acquainted with their new territory as Mozart and Kinkajou compete for the role of dominant female of the new Stars - S03E04
The Death of RomanceAugust 31, 2007—Carlos learns he has competition from Houdini from the Zappa group and the Starsky learn their new home may be temporary. - S03E05
The Tale of Len and SquiggySeptember 7, 2007—After Flower disappears mysteriously, Rocket Dog is left to lead the group. Dire consequences ensue when roving males from the Zappa appear - S03E06
Sibling RivalrySeptember 14, 2007—Lola, the dominant female of the Zappa, is missing. In her absence, Punk attempts to take charge of the Zappa. When the wounded Lola makes h - S03E07
Heavy is the CrownSeptember 21, 2007—The Kalahari is in serious drought, which splits the Whiskers for nearly a month. Although the Commandoes occupy the territory, Flower retur - S03E08
Journey's EndSeptember 28, 2007—Flower gives birth to her third litter of the year. The Whiskers have reunited and have driven away the Zappas from their territory, then tr - S03E09
A New DayOctober 5, 2007—Rocket Dog and her sister, Maybelline, compete as dominant female of the Whiskers. Zaphod exhibits resistance to the new leadership. - S03E10
Farewell, My LovelyOctober 12, 2007—As the season changes, Zaphod leaves the Whiskers and begins a new life as a roving male. His attempt to find a new mate in the Zappa tribe - S03E11
Three Degrees of SeparationOctober 19, 2007—The Whisker pups are taken their first foraging trip to learn about Kalahari life. Mozart, Kinkajou, and De la Soul of the Starskys try to r - S03E12
The GraduateOctober 26, 2007—A new roving male, Wilson from the Commandoes, joins the Whiskers and makes advances on one of the females. Mozart attracts the attention of - S03E13
A Family at WarNovember 2, 2007—As the season ends, the Whiskers now have 50 members. The new matriarch, Rocket Dog, attempts to maintain control of the group in spite of t
Season04
- S04E01
To Have and to Have NotJune 6, 2008—Maybelline dominance over the Aztecs begins to crumble and members start leaving the gang. Rocket Dog has similar problems with the Whiskers - S04E02All Manor of LoveJune 13, 2008—When Wilson tries to join the Aztecs and Zaphod deters his encroachment, he seeks attention from one of the Whiskers females.
- S04E03Rising StarJune 20, 2008—A vicious Nikita defends her territory when the Whiskers wander onto Commando territory.
- S04E04The Family WayJune 27, 2008—Sophie has problems with Rocket Dog's pregnancy, and the Aztecs find a new home with the help of Seacrest.
- S04E05The Mask of ZorroJuly 4, 2008—Led by Zorro, a group of Whiskers boys confront the Commandos, where the whole group stages a military coup. Meanwhile, Sophie is evicted fr
- S04E06Great ExpectationsJuly 11, 2008—In her final days of pregnancy, Rocket Dog seeks a new burrow so she may give birth to her pups. Zorro learns what being a Commando is like
- S04E07The BodyguardJuly 18, 2008—Sophie and Axel are distracted by Wilson when they are supposed to be babysitting, which leaves Rocket Dog's pups unattended. Meanwhile, May
- S04E08Divided We FallJuly 25, 2008—A pair of babysitters takes Rocket Dog's pups on an unexpected trip away from the burrow, which causes major problems when they encounter a
- S04E09To the Manor BornAugust 1, 2008—Lead by a pregnant Maybelline, the Aztecs battle former rivals while Nikita's pups create chaos in the Commando den.
- S04E10The BirdsAugust 15, 2008—Nugget and Beaker receive their first desert survival lessons. As the Whiskers move their burrow, the Commandos stage a war over rations and
- S04E11The Rovers ReturnAugust 22, 2008—Wilson and Phillippe leave on a mission to meet female meerkats and hopefully find a group in which they can join.
- S04E12Home AloneAugust 22, 2008—Rocket Dog's second litter of pups arrive at a time when the Whiskers are at their weakest. However, the survival of the new pups becomes un
- S04E13The Darkest DayAugust 22, 2008—Dominant male Zorro goes missing in action and chaos ensures among the Commandos. Meanwhile, a family tragedy strikes yet a second time at t
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