Mongoose: A curious animal.....

 

Second day of our stay in Varanasi, last week; we were waiting in the university guest-house for a vehicle to go to Saranath, 20 km away from BHU. Beautiful lawn in front and well-laid hedge plants around, I was watching the numerous, small, cute, yellow seasonal weedy flowers on the ground. Initially buds but the tiny flowers opened slowly as the sun came up. All of a sudden, a small squirrel-sized creature giggled around and chuckled near my feet. I sensed curious but the animal vanished into nearby bush. I stood undisturbed for a while. The animal reappeared and it was a young, pretty mongoose. It moved around swiftly, climbed up and down the parapet, stood upright on hind legs, went below a parked car and swiftly came back near to me. I clicked a couple of pictures from close, to show to my grand-daughter.....

 

On return to Goa, I looked into literature and gathered a few facts. Zoologically known in the genus Herpestes, mongoose belongs to mammalian Family Herpestidae. It is  indeed a large family. What I saw was an Indian grey mongoose, Herpestes edwardsii. Mongooses are small carnivores, known world over. It seems the name “mongoose” is derived from the Marathi word ‘mungoos’. Though mongoose is native in Asia and Africa, in many countries they were introduced in the early times as a bio-control agent against rats which destroy agriculture produces in the rural. Mongoose size ranges from a big garden lizard to a medium-sized cat. Some species live single but most move around in small groups, especially while hunting and caring offspring.

 

Mongooses have slightly long face, sharp eyes, rounded ears, strong body, thick and furry coat, short legs and long furred tail. They feed on insects, earthworms, frogs and rodents and are active during the day.  It is well known that mongooses fight with snakes, especially cobra and kill them. They have receptors for acetylcholine and thereby protected from snake venom.  It may be a rare sight today, even in the villages, but in our childhood I had often seen snake charmers using pet mongooses at mock fights with snakes.

 

Everything that we see around, big or small, mobile or sedentary, terrestrial or aquatic, ground or aerial is interesting and amusing. This is a curious world... One needs the vision to look at and mind to envision.... 

Let the festival of lights brighten up everyone's lives. Wishing all my friends a happy Diwali and a prosperous year ahead..... 

 

 

D. Jayarama Bhat