Meerkat Manor: the Lazuli

[dailyanimals]

The Lazuli are one of the oldest meerkat tribes living at the Manor. They and the Whiskers were the only two groups that I met in 2003 that are still around 10 years later. After losing out to the Whiskers and being relegated to the role of arch-rivals for the Meerkat Manor TV series, the Lazuli have gone on to take their revenge in the best way possible, have taken over much of the old Whiskers territory and have become one of the biggest tribes on the Manor (officially 33 members but some of them haven't been seen in a while, the best count we got was 28 meerkats).

The Lazuli were the only group that I was able to visit on a morning when they weren't being weighed, so I was able to take photos of them sunbathing as they woke up without being distracted by a researcher trying to lure them on to the scales with pieces of egg (in most cases the problem was less getting them on the scales, as it was getting the greediest meerkats off the scales to be able to weigh the others, which was entertaining but failed somewhat as a real natural wildlife experience).

The Lazuli

This photo of Muck on guard duty is one of my favorite photos from the trip. She may be just 12 inches tall but she is a meerkat of the Lazuli. Nobody better mess with her.

I am Muck of the Lazuli. This is where I stand.

Prints available from redbubble.