[Crafty Amanda]

FURRY FAMILY WORKS HARD TO GET BY IN MEERKAT MANOR
-- Dramatic Social Life Of Meerkat “Mob” Revealed in 13-Part Series --

With all the love, squabbling, self-sacrifice and rivalry found in any family, a group of meerkats struggles to survive in Africa's Kalahari Desert. Animal Planet's new 13-part series Meerkat Manor is All My Children meets Wild Kingdom. Don't let their cuddly appearance fool you though - there's a good reason these meerkat families are called a “mob.” Meerkat Manor premieres two back-to-back half-hour episodes Friday, June 9, starting at 8 PM (ET/PT).

Narrated by Sean Astin of “Lord of the Rings” and “24”, Meerkat Manor was filmed over the course of a 10-year Cambridge University study. From family squabbles to love affairs to backstabbing worthy of a Shakespearean tale, these fuzzy reality-TV stars pack a huge dramatic punch.

With cameras recording their every move, Meerkat Manor introduces viewers to the Whiskers, a family of meerkats, revealing their personalities over the course of the series. Researchers call the Whiskers matriarch “Flower,” but she's neither delicate nor sweet—she doesn't let anyone boss her around. Putting her newborn pups before all others, Flower isn't afraid of conflict and will stop at nothing to get her way.


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Episode 1
Viewers meet the newest additions to the Whiskers family as new pups belonging to Flower, the group leader, emerge and face the world for the first time. Drama ensues when one of the babies is kidnapped by rowdy teenage meerkats and has to be rescued by older brother, Shakespeare. Shakespeare also must face his own battle for survival when he is bitten by a deadly puff adder. Premieres June 9 at 8PM ET/PT


Episode 2
Shakespeare continues to struggle for survival after a vicious bite from a puff adder. Flower's pups are under threat from Carlos, a male from a rival family of meerkats called the Lazuli. The Whiskers are involved in a vicious fight over territory with the Lazuli, but afterwards, one of the Whiskers' girls, Daisy, has an illicit liaison with Carlos. What action will the family take when they find out? Premieres June 9 at 8:30PM ET/PT


Episode 3
The Whiskers gang grows to 37 when another of Flower's unruly daughters has pups. Flower is left with the dilemma of deciding to keep all of the pups alive, or killing them to give her own litter the best chance of survival. Shakespeare continues to struggle with the puff adder bite and becomes separated from the rest of the gang while on a desperate search for food. Meanwhile, Uncle Yousarrian decides that the breeding den isn't safe anymore and tries to instigate a dangerous burrow move while the rest of the group is out foraging. As a result, one of the new pups is left fighting for his life when left alone on the baking sand. Premieres June 16 at 8PM ET/PT