mongoose as pets
Anyone who is familiar with Rudyard Kipling’s story Rikki Tikki Tavi will know to what extent mongooses can be domesticated and turn out to be a blessing for human beings. The story revolves round a pet mongoose that saves an entire family from two cobras.
Belonging to the family of Herpestidae, mongooses are small carnivores usually hailing from Eurasia and mainland Africa. However the word mongoose has been derived from the Marathi term mangus (pronounced ‘mongoose’). There are over thirty-three species of mongoose identified, each having a specific scientific name.
Mongoose anatomy
Mongooses generally range from 1-4 feet in length and weighs somewhere between 300 grams to 4 kilograms. Some species prefer leading a solitary life while others move around in groups. Mongooses have long faces and bodies with small rounded ears. Short legs with long tapering tails complete their anatomical structure. They are covered with thick fur which is usually brown or grey in color.
Mongoose habitat and diet
Mongooses live in varied habitats, ranging from wetlands to rocky terrains, from grasslands to forests. They live in burrows and rock crevices abandoned by other animals. But occasionally they dig their own homes as well. While they are cute and cuddly; they are intelligent, cunning, bold and agile predators. They are mostly active during the day. Mongoose feed on crabs, earthworms, insects, lizards, rodents and chicken. They are also known to consume eggs. One unique attribute of the mongooses are its ability fight with venomous snakes including the deadly cobra. The Indian mongoose is particularly famous for such acts. Though mongooses are successful in killing snakes, most of the time they do not consume snake meat.
Compatibility with humans
Despite their reputation as predators, mongooses are not ferocious in nature. On the contrary they can make lovable pets for those who want them to. They can be largely compatible with humans. However all the species of mongoose cannot be fully domesticated. So it is advisable to choose carefully from the different available species. This small animal is rather intelligent and if trained properly, it is known to pick up tricks easily such as playing with balls and other props.
Nonetheless one should keep in mind certain things before having a mongoose as a pet. Since it considered being a wild animal, it becomes difficult to find a veterinary that would treat a mongoose. Once in a year vaccination is required to be given to a mongoose and rabies shot is must. Also remember, that since it is a wild animal, it can snap at anyone at any moment. So it is highly recommended that you take appropriate measures and precautions before domesticating a mongoose.
Despite its wild instincts, mongoose can turn out to be lovable pet if properly trained and taken care of.