Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center, Inc.

PAW PRINTS

The Voice of Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center
February 2008

Meerkat greetings and happy 2008 to all our friends, adoptive parents, and loyal supporters!

Once again, we’re eager to share the latest news with you, including updates on the meerkats, improvements to their enclosures, and ongoing press and publicity coverage through our partnership with Animal Planet’s Meerkat Manor.

With winter gently wrapped around the desert, the meerkats are sleeping late in the morning and then relaxing in their baskets, “belly up,” under the heat lamps after foraging for succulent insects that we sprinkle for their enjoyment.

Kendi and Rafiki "belly up" soaking in the warmth from their overhead heat lamp.
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

CENTER NEWS

Special Donations

The Gary Olsen Trust

Recently, we were astonished when a donation arrived from the Gary Olsen Trust. We remembered Gary well. He was one of our exceptionally loyal adoptive parents who supported the meerkats through the renewal of his “mob membership” year after year, even though he had never visited. Finally, in 2007, we were very pleased to schedule a visit with the meerkats for Gary. He was a soft-spoken gentleman who proved to be extraordinary with the meerkats. He was truly a “Meerkat Whisperer.”

Gary never mentioned that he had included Fellow Earthlings’ Wildlife Center in his will. Thus, when the letter arrived notifying us of his death with the donation, we were saddened by his demise and amazed by his generosity. To us, the gift was not the donation. The true gift was the realization that Gary believed in what we are doing and wanted to help us continue our work. He didn’t want any fanfare. He didn’t ask for acknowledgment. He simply cared deeply about the welfare of the animals and their ongoing care. A lasting and beautiful legacy was left to the meerkats by this remarkable and loving man.

The Dreier Family Foundation

Kristin Dreier-Wilson, Vice President of the Dreier Family Foundation in Santa Barbara, California, visited the Center in 2006. Kristin was complimentary about our work and we enjoyed her visit enormously. When she returned home, Kristin recommended that the foundation make a donation to the meerkats. We were honored to receive a donation in 2006 and we are extremely pleased to announce this is the second year the Foundation has endorsed our work through a very generous donation. The meerkats send heartfelt thanks!

Tractor Donation

Fellow Earthlings’ Wildlife Center is blessed to have two unusually dedicated supporters - Machel and Don Price. They are among our longest running adoptive parents and they’re always on the “lookout” for items on our Wish List. Two years ago they donated a much appreciated wood stove to the Center.

Just when we thought they couldn’t top their previous donations, Don told us he had a “lead” on a used tractor. Since a tractor was one of the biggest items on our Wish List, we crossed all digits and held our breath. A few days later Don delivered the tractor which was generously donated by Thurman Carson of Twenty Nine Palms, California. The tractor will be used to maintain the dirt berms which prevent flooding and to keep the acreage tidy. We send big, big thanks!

Don Price proudly delivers the tractor he procured as a donation to the Center.
Photo Credit: Pam Bennett-Wallberg

Vittles for the Critters

Thank you to everyone who has signed up for the Ralph’s and/or Food for Less grocery programs which benefit the meerkats. Both food chains have a “community rewards” program which helps non-profit organizations. After obtaining a Ralph’s and/or a Food for Less card, all you have to do is “swipe” the card every time you buy groceries and 4% of your bill, at no cost to you, is automatically donated to Fellow Earthlings’ Wildlife Center! So, by purchasing food, you are helping keep our “critters” in bugs! Please click on the link below for instructions on how to obtain a card and help support the Center. For those who are already members, please remember that you must RE-REGISTER ANNUALLY for the Ralph’s program. Please be sure your membership is current so your contributions will continue to benefit the meerkats. The meerkats thank you! To learn more, please click here.

NEW DEN BOXES FOR THE MEERKATS

The "ultimate den boxes" stand ready for introduction into the enclosures.
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

The meerkats’ old den boxes were adequate and cozy but assistant director, Denise Robertson, was constantly coming up with ideas for the “ultimate den box.” We saved a portion of your donations until we had enough to begin our new building project.

Denise designed the den boxes to include every possible comfort and safety feature for our precious charges. Bob Snyder, our builder extraordinaire, was certainly qualified for the challenge. So, after much discussion, prototypes, and revisions, the construction of the new den boxes began.

Upon completion, everyone agreed, that the dens are truly works of art. First, they’re much bigger than the old dens. (It’s like moving from a studio apartment into a ranch style house.) Here are some of the design features built into the meerkats’ new homes:

Detachable “foyers” with ventilated, lockable doors. The foyers can be detached in summer for more air circulation and, in the cold months, they can be latched into place to serve as a windbreak and assist in keeping the heat in the dens.
Metal sliding doors to use as an added safety feature when the foyers are detached in the summer. If an emergency occurs, and the foyers are detached, we can close and lock the metal doors to evacuate the meerkats safely.
A locking lid with a ledge that prevents drafts.
Double hinged lid with a locking mechanism to easily clean the inside of the boxes (we use to have to balance the lids on our heads to clean the old den boxes!)
A sliding, screened ventilation “window” at the rear of the den box that can be opened in the summer for “cross ventilation” and closed in the winter to keep the dens warm.
A custom wooden ledge inside the sleeping chamber to accommodate our specially designed “false ceiling” of insulated panels which can be dropped into place in the winter to seal in the warm air and reduce the sleeping chamber height to make it even cozier.
A long, hallway with a removable partition (for ease of cleaning) that leads to the inner sleeping chamber.
An expansive inner chamber with a zoo quality heat pad which allows the meerkats to either be on or off the heat pads (good for those spring and fall nights!)

A new, wide platform was built for Bara, Jengo and Nalo’s new den. Their old platform was narrow and the peaked roof made it difficult for them to look out onto the world when they were in their heated basket. Now, with wide Plexiglas windscreens on three sides and a “wrap around patio”, they have definitely “upgraded” and are enjoying the expansive views! Kendi and Rafiki are next in line for a new platform to accommodate their bigger den box. Remi and Suri already have an adequate platform to accommodate their new home.

Bara, Jengo and Nalo enjoying their new, spacious platform, den box and wrap around deck.
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

Meerkat Name Signs
Den Box Welcome Signs

We often talked about how nice it would be to have wooden signs with the meerkats’ names for all the enclosures. Don Gardner, an adoptive parent, visited recently and generously offered to make the signs for us. Shortly after Don’s visit a large box was delivered to us. It contained 7 gorgeous, hand crafted signs. Now, thanks to Don, each meerkat has his/her own personalized wooden plaque which will hang outside the enclosures.

Big thanks to Don! We hope he’s not too burdened by the halo we placed on his head!

The beautiful meerkat name signs hand crafted by Don Gardner.
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

Speaking of halos . . . another one of our angels recently sent us a precious package. Caroline Simpson, an adoptive parent, visited us and, again, the subject of signs came up. This time, it was in reference to the tiny “welcome” signs we have above the doors to each den box. Bara, Jengo and Nalo had lost (or buried) their old “welcome” sign and the other two signs were in sad shape. Remi didn’t like her old “welcome” sign as demonstrated by her hilarious ritual of whacking the sign off its nail every evening just before she retired into the den with Suri. Our interpretation of her behavior was, “You’re not welcome now. We’re in bed. Come back tomorrow!”

Caroline is an accomplished miniature specialist whose work was featured in Miniature Collector magazine. After her visit with the meerkats, she designed and created new welcome signs for the den boxes. Each one is utterly delightful.

Additionally, Caroline’s sign has Remi’s “seal of approval.” We replaced the old welcome sign above Remi’s door with the new one and, amazingly, it was still in place the next morning!

On behalf of the meerkats, we thank Caroline for her artistry and meticulous workmanship. We are blessed to have such wonderful and generous adoptive parents in our “mob.”

The dimunitive, exquisite meerkat den box welcome signs as designed and created by Caroline Simpson. (Notice the meerkat paw print border!)
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

Publicity

Our director, Pam Bennett-Wallberg, received a call from Animal Planet with an invitation to fly (First Class, no less!) to New York to make her second appearance on The Today Show! They asked her to speak about meerkats and, more specifically, about Meerkat Manor, Animal Planet’s engaging series about wild meerkats in southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert.

It was a whirlwind trip for Pam with a late night arrival at the Newark, New Jersey airport on August 25th. A limo and driver took her to the Club Quarters Hotel which is across the street from Rockefeller Plaza where The Today Show is filmed. With just three hours of sleep, Pam was escorted to the set for hair and makeup. Today Show’s host, Lester Holt, interviewed Pam “live” in the studio while scenes from Meerkat Manor played on a plasma screen behind them. As usual, Pam was calm, cool, and collected on camera and impressed everyone with her ease and “no cue cards” ad lib dialogue about her very favorite subject. After the show, Animal Planet hosted a brunch in Pam’s honor before whisking her back to the airport. Although it was an exciting and prestigious trip, Pam was happy to return (though exhausted!) to the Center and our own “wee beasties.” The meerkats were in the care of Denise Robertson, our assistant director, who hosted guests and spent two nights at the sanctuary to look after all the animals. As Pam stated upon her return, there’s truly “No Place Like Home” especially when yours includes a bevy of adorable creatures waiting to greet you!

Pam on the set of The Today Show, overlooking Rockefeller Plaza.
Photo Credit: Patricia Kollappallil

Pam enjoys an "off camera" moment with Animal Planet's publicist Maggie Gallant just before the live broadcast.
Photo Credit: Patricia Kollappallil

In addition to The Today Show appearance, the Center was honored to be featured in various publications between August and December:

In Touch Magazine – an article describing the visit by Sean Astin, narrator of “Meerkat Manor,” and his family in August

The Los Angeles Times – an article by Lynn Smith on August 8

The Chicago Tribune – an article by Kate O’Hare

The Press Enterprise – an article on August 10

The KMIR Channel 6 Today morning show – a live shoot on September 26

Animal Radio – the largest nationally syndicated radio show on animals airing on over 90 markets. Interview on November 20.

Flower – Queen of the Kalahari

We were all deeply saddened by the death of Flower, the matriarch of the Whiskers mob, caused by a cape cobra bite while defending her young during season three of Meerkat Manor. The day-to-day struggles of this meerkat mob in southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert has been poignantly depicted in Animal Planet’s hit series which will soon air its fourth season.

Such an outpouring of grief and condolences came from fans that Animal Planet posted an obituary for Flower on their web site and held a memorial service for this brave, loyal little meerkat in New York City. Animal Planet generously offered Pam an all expenses paid trip to New York so she could participate in the service for Flower. However, a family emergency precluded Pam’s attendance.

We received countless letters from “Flower Fans” around the globe and many included small donations “in memory” of Flower. We responded to every donation with a handwritten thank-you note no matter how modest the sum. Each letter was special and appreciated equally. The notes honoring her memory, though emotionally difficult to read, gratified us to realize what an impact this little meerkat had on so many people during her life. Although we know it was a severe blow to the Whiskers mob when Flower died, we’re confident the mob will continue the precedent Flower set with her strong leadership and loyalty. Her spirit truly lives on through her offspring. They will, undoubtedly, courageously continue her legacy.

“Love is stronger than death even though it can’t stop death from happening. No matter how hard death tries, it can’t separate people from love. And, it can’t take away our memories. In the end, life is always stronger than death.”

Anonymous

Animal Planet
Re-branding Photo Shoot

Animal Planet is working with an advertising agency to create a new marketing and branding strategy as they premier several new shows in 2008. Because Meerkat Manor is still their centerpiece, we were asked to host a professional photographer who was contracted by Animal Planet to photograph a meerkat to be used as one of the focal pieces of the new “re-branding” campaign.

All the planning details took place over the hectic holidays and the shoot was scheduled for January 8. We were uneasy about doing a shoot in the middle of winter because the meerkats are less interactive and spend a large part of the day in their heated baskets. Additionally, we were nervous because all the other animals to be photographed for the publicity campaign were hand-raised animals, contrary to our little “wild ones.”

We rolled our eyes when we learned that the crew would bring a stage with a “mark” on it and the meerkats would be required to stand upright on the “mark” for long periods of time so the photographer could get a formal studio “head shot.” We explained that our meerkats were not trained and we would not force them to do anything that would make them uncomfortable or jeopardize their safety. Although we strongly encouraged the photographic team to wait for warmer weather, the shoot was confirmed for January.

The crew arrived early in the morning and placed the stage with a wooden backdrop in one of the enclosures in hopes of duplicating studio conditions. Although the day was calm, it was bitterly cold. Lin Snyder, our operations manager, helped the crew set up a massive amount of equipment. Pam and Denise were in charge of helping the photographer and crew “get the shot.” The meerkats, with their usual “take it all in stride attitude,” were totally unconcerned as they lounged under their heat lamps and watched the flurry of activity around them.

The elaborate studio stage build out process....
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

When all the equipment was placed in the enclosure, we realized it would be very difficult for the meerkats to find their way past the reflective umbrellas, strobe lights, cables, battery boxes, and people to get to the stage. We had little hope the meerkats would cooperate under such challenging conditions – cold weather, no sun, LOTS of people, and loud, flashing strobe lights. We saw the tiny “mark” on the stage which indicated where the photographer’s camera would be focused and realized it was our job to get the meerkats “on the mark,” stand up, and then have them stay there long enough for the photographer to get some head shots. The crew thought the heat from the lights would be enough incentive for the meerkats to stay on the stage, but we disagreed as the heat at “meerkat height” was almost non-existent. Luckily, Denise had advised the crew to bring a portable heater. It was placed just inches from the “mark” on the stage in hopes it would encourage the meerkats to “sun” themselves in precisely the correct spot for the photographs to be taken.

The infamous "mark" center stage with the magnifying ring set exactly at meerkat "head height" for the shot. (Notice the strategic position of the heater just to the left of the "magic ring.")
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

Kendi and Rafiki were the first meerkats released into the large enclosure. We reminded everyone on the set about “meerkat etiquette” – keep voices low in pitch and volume, slow movements, or preferably no movement. The pair of meerkats cautiously and suspiciously ambled into the enclosure. We were amazed when we had them on the stage (using a little “mealworm” enticement) within moments. However, the next big challenge was to get them to stay on the stage long enough for the photographer to get some shots. The meerkats raced around at the speed of light as they devoured the worms scattered on the stage. Then, when the worms were gone, they simply disappeared among the cables, boxes, lights, and equipment. We cajoled, enticed, and used every trick we could devise to get them into position for the photographer. Although the photographer was very “quick on the draw,” she was only getting “rear end” shots.

The crew placed a “state-of-the-art” computer with a huge screen outside the enclosure. It was connected to the photographer’s camera so every time she took a photo it appeared on the screen (instant gratification!) for the advertising agency’s publicists and the Animal Planet representatives to see. Pam and Denise were inside the enclosure diligently trying to get the meerkats in the right position. An “Ahh” or “Ohh” voiced by the people watching the computer screen was the only clue that the photographer was occasionally getting a good shot.

As Pam and Denise facilitated the shoot, Lin was “security guard” and “on site production assistant” as she kept the meerkats safely away from the door when camera batteries needed to be replaced or photo assistants were requested to enter or exit the enclosure. After a long, frustrating, frigid morning, we had lunch and warmed up before resuming the second photo session featuring our trio - Jengo, Nalo, and Bara.

The trick with the trio was to keep them apart. As highly social animals, meerkats “hang” together, so it was challenging with this “threesome” to have just one meerkat in the shot. Bara is a subspecies and looks a little different from our other meerkats. Her subspecies is found in a different area of Africa and is, thus, not the species filmed in Meerkat Manor. So, to be accurate, we had to keep Bara “out of the shot” which was almost impossible since she is our cheekiest and cleverest meerkat. Miraculously, Denise managed to surreptitiously feed mealworms to Bara off the stage without Jengo and Nalo knowing. We now call Denise the “mistress of mealworm magic.”

The winter daylight was fading fast and the temperature dipped alarmingly. In the past, we had always hosted successful photo shoots, but now we worried that because of the arduous conditions, we weren’t going to get the photographs Animal Planet needed. Just then, Nalo jumped on the stage, stood up precisely on the mark, and looked straight into the camera. The strobe light popped like a firecracker as it produced a dazzling flood of light. Amazingly, the light and sound didn’t faze the little guy! In fact, it looked as though he was actually “posing” for the camera! Every time the strobe flashed, he changed his position slightly and looked directly at the, very pleased, photographer. It went something like this:

“Look right” (Flash!) “Look left” (Flash!) “Look down” (Flash!) “Give ‘em that killer- cute- over- the- shoulder look” (Flash!)

Now, with no mealworms in sight, the incentive was the heater we had placed inches from the “mark.” As the camera clicked and the publicity team beamed with delight, we wanted to shout, “You’re a Star, Nalo,” but instead we all just smiled! Not to be upstaged, Jengo bumped Nalo out of the limelight, took his place in front of the heater and afforded the photographer another fabulous opportunity to get hundreds of shots. The boys were definitely the stars of the shoot and now we fully expect them to join the screen actors’ guild and demand residuals – or, at least, demand a bigger share of the bugs.

Although the challenges of this photo shoot were daunting, the meerkats came through with courage, tenacity, and that ever present curiosity which ultimately gave the photographer exactly what she wanted. What amazing creatures!

The commercials with Animal Planet’s new “look” debuted on Super Bowl Sunday during the “Puppy Bowl.” Watch for the ads as they continue to feature some striking photos of Jengo and Nalo.

Nalo "stikes a pose" for the Animal Planet Shoot.
Photo Credit: DA Robertson

We close this latest edition of Paw Prints ever mindful of the trust and the confidence you, our extended family, have placed in us to provide for all the precious creatures in our care. Our mission is to not just give the meerkats the highest quality life possible, but to also share the wisdom, playfulness and joy of the meerkats with every single visitor that graces our gate. We believe that the simplest of things can many times bring the greatest pleasure and satisfaction – so for us, it is not too far of a stretch to think that a leisurely, sunny afternoon spent sitting quietly with these amazing animals just might change one’s life in some small way. Whether that translates to something as grand as following your own heart’s passion or as small as letting the person in line with just a few items check out in front of you at the grocery store – everything counts…. simply everything. We hear stories every day from adoptive parents who tucked away a meaningful moment in their hearts to savor after being with the meerkats. These tiny but wise little creatures teach us so much about embracing the simple things of life – that it’s not about the “stuff”, but rather about truly enjoying the wonderful ride we have all been given on this beautiful planet of ours…surrounded by loving friends and family.

From our family to yours – until next time…..

“May your walls know joy. May every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibilities.”

Maryanne Radmacher-Hershey

Paw Prints is written quarterly by Denise A. Robertson, Assistant Director of Fellow Earthlings’ Wildlife Center