About this season
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.
Episodes (13)
1. Cold Comfort
Aired 29 September 2006
Season 2 brings winter to Meerkat Manor. The Whiskers did not find Shakespeare after the Lazuli attack and he is presumed dead. Other tragedies are reshaping the families and Youssarian hopes to become the dominant male of the Lazuli clan.
2. The Three Amigos
Aired 29 September 2006 • 30 min
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 males who want to mate with Lazuli females join Youssarian.
3. Young Blood
Aired 6 October 2006 • 30 min
The Commandoes, a new enemy family, spend the night on the Whiskers territory. A conflict ensues between the Whiskers, the Lazuli and the Commandoes.
4. Iron Lady
Aired 6 October 2006 • 30 min
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 her pregnancy, so her three daughters, Kinkajou, Daisy and Mozart, try to be careful or face eviction.
5. No Place Like Home
Aired 13 October 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 has a new litter and the rain ensures there will be a plentiful supply of food for all the meerkats.
6. When Flower Met Hannibal
Aired 13 October 2006 • 30 min
As Mozart's banishment continues, Flower and the pups get into a vicious fight with the Commandoes when the Whiskers get split up.
7. United We Stand
Aired 20 October 2006
Mozart is allowed to return to the family, but there serious consequences ensue when the Whiskers battle with the Commandoes. After three weeks of rain, Flower's newest litter of pups finally emerge from the burrow.
8. The Enemy Within
Aired 20 October 2006 • 30 min
Youssarian abandons his babysitting duties and leaves Flower's pups alone to face a terrifying rain storm. In an attempt to expand their territory, the rival Lazulis move a little too close to the Whiskers.
9. The Art of Leadership
Aired 27 October 2006 • 30 min
When the Whiskers are caught raiding their rival's burrow, they are forced to flee with dire consequences. Flower learns one of her daughters has a secret.
10. Balance of Power
Aired 27 October 2006 • 30 min
Big problems evolve at Meerkat Manor because Flower and Mozart are pregnant at the same time. Youssarian is left to babysit Flower's second litter of year. Mozart attempts to exert her authority on the Whiskers.
11. Growing Pains
Aired 3 November 2006
Heavy rains leave the Kalahari covered with lush foliage, with tall grasses and beautiful flowers. Although life has never been better for the Whiskers, unusual conditions could mean disaster for the family.
12. The Godmother
Aired 10 November 2006 • 30 min
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 to avoid losing her second litter of the year.
13. The Quiet Fields
Aired 10 November 2006 • 30 min
Winter returns to Meerkat Manor. The family has abandoned Mozart, who is trying to take care of her newborn pups. The rival Commandoes force a confrontation with the Whiskers.