The Animal Welfare Society of South Africa (AWS) has urged residents in the Kenwyn area to be on the lookout for a mongoose which has been spotted in the area.
The Cape grey mongoose has been frequenting properties and according to social media users, has been in the area of Kenwyn and Lansdowne for the better part of 2024, with sightings last year as well.
The AWS encourages residents not to feed or approach the animal and not to encourage it into the home to try and domesticate it as a pet. Residents are also encouraged to keep their dogs away from it.
The sighting was first brought to the attention of the AWS on the evening of Thursday 26 September, but has been reported to other organisations since last year, they confirm.
According to the South African National Biodiversity institute (Sanbi), the Cape grey mongoose is a small mammal endemic to Southern Africa – including Namibia, Lesotho and several South African provinces.
They can often be seen darting across roads. It is a small species that can grow 55–75 cm long.“Cape grey mongoose can be found in a variety of habitats from fynbos to forest and dry Karoo areas with sparse vegetation.
They seek shelter beneath vegetation, rocky outcrops, holes in termite heaps and holes made by other animals. They avoid areas with open fields and short vegetation. They are often found near human settlements and are regularly seen along roadsides,” says Sanbi.
Multiple
Allan Perrins, AWS spokesperson, suspects there may be more than one mongoose in the area.“Mongooses are not solitary animals, so it is likely that it may be one of a few. Perhaps (this is) an adult in search of food for itself or it’s young,” says Perrins.
It is currently breeding season, and the AWS suspects that it may have pups close by.
“Their biggest threats are urban encroachment leading to habitat destruction, and motor vehicles,” says Perrins.
“They are very partial to poultry so anyone who keeps chickens needs to be aware of it traversing the area.”Sanbi says the mongoose are opportunistic feeders that eat a wide range of animal and some plant material, preying on small mammals and insects, but their diet also includes carrion, birds, reptiles, amphibians, wild fruits and even rubbish.
says Perrins.
“They readily cohabit and adapt to urban spaces so it is not that much of a surprise that it has been observed in the Kenwyn area that boarders Kenilworth Race Course and Youngsfield Army base. Both are environments that would be very suited to several species of wild animals.”
- If you spot the mongoose, call the AWS on 021 692 2626 or 082 601 1761.
