Page 8 - Waterfall Issue 4 2021

Waterfall News
MEET Mooch
6 Waterfall Issue 4
Waterfall’s new meerkat mascot
A lthough Mooch is fairly new to the area, it
hasn’t taken him long to make Waterfall
his home and the Waterfall community
his friends. In fact, some of us – especially
our younger residents – have already fallen in love
with Mooch and are excited about his new role.
But who is this new mystery resident? And since meerkats
aren’t indigenous to Waterfall, where did he come from?
Mooch was born and raised in the kalahari and is part of
a big, happy family with 15 siblings. Can you imagine?
Although he will always love the desert plains, Mooch
craved adventure and, after finishing Meerkat School, he
made his way to the City of Gold to find his fortune. But
the noise and fast pace of Joburg’s urban jungle were too
much for him. As he explored further afield, he discovered
Waterfall – the perfect mix of country and city living! And the
rest, as they say, is history . . . Mooch had found his home.
Despite being quite a shy meerkat, Mooch was quick to
make friends within the Waterfall community and now
counts a bunch of local birds and beasts amongst his
besties. The first friend he made was Mr Lonely, the rock
dassie (the only dassie on Waterfall, hence the lonely part).
Mooch can relate, as he is also the only meerkat here. His
feathered friends include Waddles the duck, Tweety the
robin (a real chatterbox), Grant the Guinea fowl and wise
old Owlbert Einstein. Miles the mongoose kindly helped
Mooch dig his burrow on the banks of the Jukskei River
and he already feels like ‘a brother from another mother’.
However, our meerkat mascot is still getting to know Bouncy
Ben the rabbit, Tommy tortoise (a strong silent type), Slinky
the monitor lizard and Jolly the jackal (a total joker).
Gone is the shy, nervous, lonely meerkat who first arrived
in Waterfall. Having found his feet, Mooch has blossomed
into a witty, smooth-talking charmer amongst his friends,
admired for his secret skill as a hairstylist, which he
eagerly practises on some of his mates’ overgrown fur,
wayward whiskers and bushy tails. He has also relaxed
around humans and now enjoys his celebrity status:
being recognised and having his photo taken, especially
with the small humans. His intelligence and great sense
of humour have made him a popular resident, and you
can be sure that wherever there is adventure afoot,
2021