PAW PRINTS
The Voice of Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center
January 2011
Spending "Meerkat Time" together
© Tom Green
The Bushmen of southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert have two words for time: The first word is used for chronological time which is measured in minutes, hours, and days. It’s that “race against the clock” kind of time which most of us measure our lives by. The Bushmen’s second word for time is infinitely more important to them. It’s the type of time that they gauge events which are so memorable that every moment is treasured. Bushmen say that meerkats live in this second type of time because they cherish family and all the small, but truly important things in life beyond all else. We, at Fellow Earthlings’ Wildlife Center, have made a New Year’s resolution: We resolve to emulate the Bushmen and the meerkats, to stop racing the clock, and to take time to appreciate the important things in life ~ family, friends, sunshine, fun, and great grub.
CENTER NEWS
The meerkats at Fellow Earthlings’ Wildlife Center come to us from accredited zoos for a variety of reasons: The animals may be orphaned, injured, old, or the previous facility no longer has space to care for them. The meerkats placed here are given life-long homes. We are strong proponents of appropriate animals in appropriate habitats. Thus, the Center’s acreage was selected because it closely resembles the climate of the meerkats’ native habitat in southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert. The only difference is that the seasons are reversed. So, while our meerkats are kept cozy and warm with heated den boxes and outdoor heat lamps, their wild cousins are now enjoying summer in the Kalahari. Soon, warm weather will return to Morongo Valley and the cold will descend upon the Kalahari.
We send heartfelt thanks to the Angels who made recent donations which enabled us to provide optimum care for our winsome residents. We are especially grateful to you in this very lean economic time for non-profit sanctuaries. Many thanks for helping us pay for the “bug bill,” veterinarian care, electricity, shelter, toys, and all the other “creature comforts” that your gifts provide the meerkats. We send blessings to you.
Relaxing meerkat style
© Tom Green
AFRICAN MEERKAT TOURS WITH PAM
Our director, Pam Bennett-Wallberg, made two more trips to Africa in 2009 and 2010 to benefit our meerkats at the Center and to gather information for her second book.
Over the years, Pam has received numerous requests to guide Meerkat Tours in southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert. Now, we are pleased to announce that she has partnered with Dantes Liebenberg, the owner of Kalahari Tours and Travel, to provide such tours. Dantes and Pam have traveled together frequently and extensively throughout South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland.
Dantes was born and raised in the Kalahari. Seventeen years of guiding tours has made him an expert in the flora and fauna of Africa. He is licensed, accredited, affable, reliable, honest, and an amazing chef. He will delight you with his ability to spot animals when they are, seemingly, invisible to everyone else. Additionally, he will keep you comfortable and secure in this enthralling, dazzling region of Africa.
Pam’s 22 years of caring for meerkats has led to remarkable opportunities. Disney chose her to be their consultant for the meerkat character of “Timon” in the movie The Lion King. Additionally, she has been the consultant for numerous wildlife documentaries by Animal Planet, BBC, and National Geographic.
Cambridge University selected her to join a team of 9 zoologists doing field studies of meerkats in the Kalahari. Then, Animal Planet chose Pam to be the spokesperson for their hit series Meerkat Manor. She has made appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20, Nightline, etc. Additionally, her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Los Angeles Times.
Pam is the author of a book and numerous magazine articles featuring her favorite subject -- the flora and fauna of the Kalahari Desert. She is also a popular speaker at various zoo and environmental conferences and was nominated for Animal Planet’s Hero of the Year.
Clients who want to see meerkats in their native habitat will be delighted to know that the MEERKAT TOURS will also provide people with the opportunity to see Africa’s Big 5 ~ lions, elephants, rhinoceros, leopards, and cape buffalo.
For more information about the Meerkat Tours please contact Dantes Liebenberg. Dantes@Kalahari-tours.co.za. Or, visit his website http://www.kalahari-tours.co.za (CLICK ON SCHEDULED DEPARTURES BUTTON)
© R. Stacy
Come visit the wild cousins of the meerkats at Fellow Earthlings’ Wildlife Center
© R. Stacy
REFLECTIONS OF AFRICA
“Here I am, safely returned over those peaks from a journey far more beautiful and strange than anything I had hoped for or imagined – how is it that this safe return brings such regret?”
Peter Matthissen – b. 1927 American writer