Reprinted with permission from the Victor Valley Daily Press.

Little Earth People

Story and photos by SUSAN D. LAWSON / Staff Writer

am and Phil Wallberg are married to the mob — a mob of meerkats, that is.

Suri, a male meerkat, looks for a mealworm handout from Pam Bennett-Wallberg, founder of Fellow Earthings' Wildlife Center.

The Wallbergs care for their gang of seven at their rustic Morongo Valley home, the Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center, which is the only privately licensed meerkat facility in the Western Hemisphere.

"All of our meerkats are orphans, sick, old, injured or they've run out of room in a zoo," said Pam Bennett-Wallberg, who has taken care of meerkats for the past 20 years.

Her first experience with the cheeky creatures was as the Director of Wildlife Programs at the Living Desert wildlife and botanical park in Palm Desert.

"One day they had a litter of meerkats born and one was not thriving," Pam said. "They asked if I would take it home (for rehabilitation), so I did."

In less than two weeks, the meerkat started to thrive, so the Wallbergs decided to name the baby Kalahari — after the African desert where the animals originate.

"(Pam) has the magic touch," Phil Wallberg added.

But when it came time to return Kalahari to the Living Desert's meerkat home, the animal wasn't so cooperative.

"It just wasn't successful," Pam said. "She was too used to people. The other meerkats shunned her, so she would just sit off by herself."

The Wallbergs asked the curator of the Living Desert if they could remain Kalahari's keepers. But because meerkats are one of the most strictly regulated animals in the world, the Wallbergs faced a wall of red tape.

A meerkat stands on its hind legs to take advantage of the last warm rays of afternoon sun. The black fur around their eyes act as sunglasses.

For two years, the Wallbergs plowed through paperwork, constructing meerkat-approved enclosures and undergoing stringent inspections to make their dream come true.

At times ready to throw in the towel, Pam said it was husband Phil, a retired Marine fighter pilot, who kept her going.

"He told me 'no guts, no glory,' " she said. "It sure took a lot to get where we're at."

Finally receiving the proper accreditation in 1989, the Wallbergs now must maintain special permits from California Fish and Wildlife, the U.S.D.A. and Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Wallbergs hope to care for more meerkats, "but we need $4,000 to build another enclosure first," Pam said.

As a nonprofit facility, the Wallbergs rely on donations to care for the meerkats. As an incentive, they offer a meerkat adoption program.

"This doesn't mean we send (meerkats) home with you," laughed Pam. "Although meerkats are adorable and captivating, they do not make good pets."

Instead, the $100 adoption donation allows the adoptive parent and their guests to feed and interact with the endearing creatures.

"Unlike a zoo, you can get inside (the enclosures)," Pam said. "The meerkats love it and the people love it. It's a win-win situation."

Adoptions and donations also defray feeding costs. Wallberg said it takes $100 a week to keep up with the animal's steady diet of mealworms, crickets, wax worms and superworms. Until eaten, the bugs take up residence in Tupperware-type food containers in and on top of the kitchen refrigerator.

Meerkats eat a variety of insects, including these mealworms.

Native to dry regions of the Kalahari Desert in Africa, meerkats (suricata suricatta), are a member of the mongoose family. These small, but voracious omnivores dine on roots, insects, snakes, lizards and the occasional mouse or bird. Their long, curved claws are ideal for digging a maze of underground tunnels or looking for food.

Family groups are called mobs or gangs, and can include more than a dozen members. In the wild they are fiercely territorial, and an entire family will rise to fight off intruders.

A meerkat can live 12 to 14 years. They spend much of their time foraging for food, grooming, playing or sunbathing. They often stand on their hind legs to look for danger or soak up warmth of the sun.

"We call them 'the solar panels of the animal world'," Pam said.

Phil Wallberg, center, sits with adoptive parent Marilyn Forrest, left, and her guest Jean Heeringa, as they feed the meerkats. Adoptive parents come from around the world, including Turkey, Spain, Australia and England.

The meerkats at Fellow Earthlings love visitors, not only because they are treated to their favorite foods, but it is also keeps their minds stimulated.

"It's an enrichment for them to meet new people," Pam said. "We also change their toys daily — (meerkats) are so intelligent."

The Wallberg's meerkats have also become celebrities. Pam was a consultant to Disney during the animation of the "Lion King" character, Timon, who was modeled after Kalahari.

"(Disney) wanted to know what the Top 10 personalities of a meerkat was, or they'd call and ask 'does a meerkat do this?', and I'd tell them 'yes' or 'no,' " Pam said.

And how well did Disney do with their animated meerkat?

"We were soooo pleased," Pam said. "The personality was right on — sassy, big attitude."

Meerkat soaks up warmth of the sun.

Animal Planet recently filmed part of their upcoming May 12 documentary, "The Power of Play," at the center, which will compare animal play to how humans play.

Like caring for children, taking care of the meerkats is a 24/7 endeavor, but the Wallbergs wouldn't trade places with anyone. Despite the high demands of the meerkats, the Wallbergs are also raising a Labrador puppy as a seeing-eye dog for Guide Dogs of the Desert.

"People have been good to us and we want give a little back to the community," Pam said. "It's not that we have to do this. It's the fact we get up and get to do this. (Meerkats) have brought so much to our lives."

THE MEERKAT MOTTO

Respect the elders, teach the young, cooperate with the family, play when you can, work when you should, rest in between, share your affection, voice your feelings, leave your mark.

• What: Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center, a nonprofit facility dedicated to the care of meerkats
• Where: 11427 West Drive, Morongo Valley, California, 92256. Mailing address is P.O. Box 1319.
• Information: (760) 363-1344 or e-mail at info@FellowEarthlings.org
• On the Web: http://www.FellowEarthlings.org/
• Adoptions: $100 tax deductible donations. Adoption privileges (by appointment Friday through Sunday only) includes touring the center, hand-feeding of the meerkats, personalized adoption certificate, framed color photo of your meerkat, meerkat fact sheet.