Meerkat Manor

Like millions of Americans, I have become thoroughly addicted to Animal Planet's Meerkat Manor.  If you haven't seen it, you are just missing out big time.  Meerkat Manor chronicles the life and death exploits of the little meerkat species in the Kalahari Desert of Africa.  Not only are these incredibly resourceful little creatures with amazingly engaging personalities, but the key to meerkat survival is the complex social life they enjoy.  The big activities are feeding and mating, which the meerkats do frequently.  One result of this kid-centered life (the meerkats practice home-schooling exclusively), is that a meerkat family is run by a dominant female, who is paired with a dominant male.  For the most part, the males are either dominants who serve as the family bouncer or they are roving males, always on the hunt for a mating opportunity.  This is just the briefest of introductions -- you just have to watch the show and you will likely be hooked.  Fortunately, Animal Planet provides a full-episode viewer on its website, so you can catch up rather quickly.