Narrow-striped mongoose

Scientific Name: Mungotictis decemlineata Animal Type: Mammal Location: Madagascar Conservation Status: Endangered

Profile

 

Like meerkats, narrow-striped mongooses are members of the Herpestidae family of mammals. Along with four other mongoose species, narrow-striped mongooses are found only in Madagascar, where they live in the forests of the Menabe area in the west of this huge island. Insects form a large part of their diet, along with small vertebrates.

The mongooses are benefiting from Durrell’s ongoing conservation work in Menabe, where we are carrying out research and community education focused on several threatened species, including the giant jumping rat and the flat-tailed tortoise.

Working first with meerkats gave us important experience working with these little carnivores. Narrow-striped mongooses first came to Jersey in 2002 and 2003 with the arrival of a captive-bred pair. We are now hoping to bring some individuals to Jersey from Madagascar to inject new life into the breeding programme.

Unfortunately our female mongoose has a history of rejecting her young, but hand-rearing has been successful.

Other Endangered Animals Aye-aye Black & white ruffed lemur Cotton-top tamarin Golden lion tamarin Golden poison frog Gorilla Livingstone's fruit bat Madagascan flat-tailed tortoise Madagascar giant jumping rat Marañón poison frog Mauritius pink pigeon Meller's duck Red-breasted goose Round Island boa Sardinian brook salamander Spiny turtle Sulawesi crested black macaque Vietnamese pheasant