Yes, I know some of you might think this is the gayest thing I ve posted about yet. But, to be honest if I really cared what everyone thought, I wouldnt have posted about a lot of what Ive posted about. I am one of those people who happens to love animals, & love watching them in their natural habitat. So like some people I tend to watch things on Animal Planet, like for example Meerkat Manor. Which happens to be my Favorite show, that was until Sept 28th.
I ll explain why I no longer want to watch this show.
Ive watched this show for 3 years now, & Ive managed to become very attached to these little Meerkats, specially the dominant female FLOWER. In the 3 years Ive watched this program, Ive seen life, & death of these little guys. But, this last episode I watched on Sept. 28th, Friday ripped my heart out. I cried myself to sleep that Friday night, then also cried the rest of the weekend. I vowed not to watch it ever again. It was the saddest thing I had ever watched on TV!! I never thought I allowed myself to become that attached to an animal that was half way around the world, stood only inches tall & weighed about 1lb, if that. But after watching I realized just how attached I had become, & being that I am that passionate about them, I couldnt allow myself to have my heartache like that again. Here's what happened in that episode!!
The Whiskers clan is without a matriarch.
Flower, the leader of the central gang of meerkats that is the focus of Animal Planet's documentary cum soap opera Meerkat Manor, died in February during filming of the show's third season after being bitten by a cobra. She was six.
Friday's episode of the hit series, "A Journey's End," featured the events leading up to Flower's untimely death, which occurred during yet another meerkat struggle for survival in South Africa's Kalahari Desert—an inevitable part of the frequently compelling, albeit furry and adorable, drama that has made Meerkat Manor Animal Planet's number-one show.
"Flower's courage and strength in life was mirrored in her passing," said senior executive producer Mick Kaczorowski. "Viewer and fans have become attached to Flower because she exemplified the qualities of a true hero and a veritable leader."
According to Kaczorowski, Flower was buried onsite in a market grave by the Cambridge University scientists who preside over the Kalahari Meerkat Project.
Although Animal Planet didn't televise news of Flower's passing, in order to stave off the viewer confusion that resulted when Flower's son Shakespeare was injured at the end of season one and then was gone by season two, a statement was posted in March on the network's Meerkat Manor message board informing fans that Flower hadn't survived a snakebite and would be missed.
"When Shakespeare disappeared over the season, we weren't filming—there was no evidence, no body," Kaczorowski told the Los Angeles Times. "When we came back in Season 2, everybody was completely frustrated. Conspiracy theories came up. The most important thing is to track down the remains or stay with the body so we could put an end to the story."
Animal Planet is planning a commemorative spot, an online tribute and a press event in New York to honor the Meerkat Manor heroine. There is also a feature film in the works, Queen of the Kalahari, which is intended to be a prequel about Flower's life prior to her small-screen stardom.
"Flower was larger than life," said Marjorie Kaplan, general manager of Animal Planet and Discovery Kids Media. "She stood tall against her foes, readily and regularly faced conflict and was a pillar of strength for her family.
"The circle of life is very much a reality in the animal kingdom. We at Animal Planet are devastated by the loss of Flower and recognize that her death will have a deep impact on our viewers. Life in the Kalahari will never be the same."
Up in the air now is the fate of Zaphod, Flower's partner and the dominant male of the Whiskers mob. If losing his mate proves too much to handle, his brother Youssarian—a former top meerkat who has been pegged as having "social problems"—could rise again.
Flower and Zaphod's son, Mitch, also has exhibited leadership qualities in the wake of his brother Shakespeare's death, and he could be a force to be reckoned with, as well.
It's also unsure who will become the new female leader of the extensive clan. Flower's daughter Mozart is a possibility, but despite being caring and compassionate, she has estranged herself from the family more than once.
No, the above was not a summary of a Dallas episode. Although just as it was for the Ewings when J.R. was shot, the Whiskers' societal order now hangs in the balance.
The daily goings-on at the so-called manor may read like a page from any prime-time soap, replete with jealous exes, sibling rivalry, (meer)kat fights, pregnant daughters getting kicked out of the house and a lot of mating, but the stars of this show don't follow any script.
Instead, it's a group of intrepid researchers, their specially built fiber-optic cameras and some crafty editors that have captured a slice of life that just happens to be taking place, at times, in a burrow.
And while regular watchers of the series might sometimes trick themselves into thinking that they're watching teeny-tiny humans who just happen to have tails, crescent-shaped ears, tapered faces and particularly beady eyes, these mammals are members of the mongoose family.
If you want to watch the episode go to Animalplanet.com & then go to Meerkat Manor & watch the video. Youll see why it was so heart breaking!! Take care everyone!! Love always, MM XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Ken Bennet, passed away this morning around 1:15 am. Thankfully, he wasn't alone!! His son Justin, his wife Janie, & his sister Gale were all in the room with him when he took his last breath.
