Mongoose

Mongoose (beji) small, carnivorous, terrestrial Old World mammals of the family Herpestidae, order Carnivora, occurring in Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and Far East, with one species extending into South Spain. They occupy various habitats from desert to savannah and forest. They are agile, active mammals with long faces and bodies, short legs, small rounded ears, and long bushy tails. Their hair is coarse and shaggy. Body length ranges from 50 to 100 cm including the tail, which is about as long as the head and body. Unlike civets, they lack scent glands; but have a large anal scent sac, and use odour to mark their home ranges. Most species are solitary.

Contrary to popular belief, mongooses are not immune to snake venom; instead, they rely on their skill, agility and thick fur to avoid being bitten. The common Indian mongoose, Herpestes edwardsi, is known for its ability to kill snakes, including cobras. When attacking a snake, the mongoose provokes it to strike repeatedly, avoiding it by agile dodging; when the snake is exhausted the mongoose seizes its head in its jaws and crushes the skull. Skill in evading the snake is learned, and young mongooses often die of snakebite. However, ingested snake venom is harmless to the mongoose, even if it eats the snake's head and venom glands.

The Indian mongoose is easily tamed and is often kept as a pet and a destroyer of household vermin. Imported into the West Indies to kill rats, it destroyed most of the small ground-living native fauna. Because of their destructiveness, it is illegal to import mongooses into the United States, even for zoos. The ancient Egyptians domesticated the Egyptian Grey Mongoose, or Ichneumon, H. ichneumon, which they considered sacred. The marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus, lives near waterbodies in Africa and dives for food. Mongooses are classified into 12 genera. Bangladesh has three species under the genus Herpestes, of which 2 are threatened, one has no immediate threat. The species profile of the mongooses of Bangladesh is given below:

Common Mongoose

Common Mongoose (bad beji) a vulnerable yellowish grey mongoose, Herpestes edwardsi, has alternate light and dark rings on hairs, tail is tipped with white or yellowish red. Winter coat is somewhat darker. Head and body length is about 45 cm, tail is of equal length. Weight is about 1.4 kg. It takes shelter under rocks or bushes, sometimes occupies termite mounds or digs hole. The mongoose hunts singly or in pairs, rarely in families, on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and all kinds of insects. It rarely feeds on birds'; eggs, carrion and also fruits and roots, sometimes becomes habitual poultry thieves in towns and villages. The mongoose breeds round the year; 3 litters may be produced in a year. The gestation period is about 60 days. It lives in open lands, scrubs and cultivation and is widely distributed in the country. Habitat loss and killing as a pest are the main threats to this species. It is also found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Turkey.

Crab-eating Mongoose (kakdabhuk beji) an endangered, large, dusky iron-grey mongoose, Herpestes urva; a white stripe running from the angle of the mouth along each side of the neck to the shoulders. Fur is long, coarse and somewhat ragged; long light tips to the hairs paling the general tone; wooly under-fur dark brown at the base and pale brownish yellow at the tips. Head and body length is 45-50 cm; tail is without hair at the end and is 25-30 cm in length. Weight is 1.8 to 2.3 kg. The mongoose is an expert swimmer and diver; it feeds mainly on frogs, fishes and crabs; hunts along the banks of streams. It squirts out a fetid fluid as a means of defence. Its breeding habits are not known. It lives near the waterbodies in the hilly areas of the SE. Habitat loss is the main threat. It is also found in India (northeastern part), Nepal, Myanmar, China (southern part) and Malaysia (northern part).

Small Indian Mongoose (beji/nakul) a small-sized mongoose, Herpestes jaranicus, with a short tail (tail is shorter than the body), and olive-brown, gold-flecked and soft silky fur. It lives in holes burrowed by itself in bushes, hedges and cultivated fields. It is a cautious diurnal creature generally remain around the cover. Its presence can be detected by the worn tracks that it leaves along the hedges. It uses the same path day after day. It feeds on rats, mice, snakes, scorpions, centpedes, wasps and insects of all kinds. It breeds round the year; 2-3 litters are produced in a year. The newborn young are practically hairless, and of a dark mouse colour. The eyes are opened on the 16-17th day after birth. The species is widely distributed in the country and has no immediate threat. It is also found in India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Turkey. [Md Anwarul Islam]