Game Hunting Adventures: The Banded Mongoose

The banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) is found in sub-Saharan Africa, where they enjoy a variety of habitats, including grasslands, bush, and wooded areas. They are semi-nomadic animals, inhabiting areas for only a short while before moving on but often returning to their favorite dens or shelters. Game hunting enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that they are listed by the IUCN as an animal of “least concern.”

Unlike many other mongooses, the banded mongoose is quite social, living in colonies of between 10-20 mongooses. They forage and hunt together, allowing them to attack and kill larger prey, such as snakes. Their diet is mainly carnivorous with items such as centipedes, snakes, small rodents, lizards, and insects on the menu, but they do supplement their diet at times with berries, fruit, and nuts.

Speaking of prey, the banded mongoose itself is prey to many predators, including jackals, wild dogs, hyenas, birds of prey, and snakes.  Another predator is, of course, man, who targets them on game hunting safaris.

Both males and females have multiple mating partners. The gestation period for the banded mongoose is about 60 days, with the female giving birth to between 2-6 pups.