South AfricaThe python was surrounded by a herd of more than 20 mongooses and could only endure the blows and find a chance to escape instead of fighting back.
Tourist Pierre Nel witnessed a rare attack by a pack of mongooses on a python in Marloth park in South Africa, Latest Sightings reported on April 24. According to Nel, he and his wife were attracted by the distinctive hissing and groaning sounds that stood out in the quiet night. They used the phone’s light to illuminate and find out where the sound was coming from. Then, they were surprised to see more than 20 angry mongooses growling and attacking the python.
The mongoose continued to attack from every angle. Some of them rushed to bite while others scratched the python. On the contrary, the python did not even try to counterattack. It seems it knows it has no chance to fight back due to being overwhelmed in numbers and strength.
The mongoose is protective of its family, especially its young. They did not appear to be afraid of the python at all. A few bold members of the herd faced the python’s head and dangerous fangs to strike while the rest continuously bit the body. Striped mongooses are often the target of many predators. Due to their small size, they must rely on numbers to exert their strength. Sometimes, they will not stop attacking until the threatening person is completely dead or leaves.
After a while of being beaten, the python realized it would most likely die if it didn’t run away. So it crawled to a small branch on the forest floor and snuggled against it to protect its head from the mongoose’s bites but its body remained exposed. Just waiting for the mongoose to stop for a moment, the python fled into the dense bushes. The mongoose stood together and watched until the python completely disappeared before retreating.
The striped mongoose is about the size of a cat, only about 30 – 46 cm long, with a tail 30 cm long, according to the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. They usually eat insects. The striped mongoose’s diet is mainly millipedes and beetles, but they also eat birds, eggs, snails, fruit and snakes. This animal is highly social, living in herds with an average of about 20 individuals with a dominant male. Although they roam alone, they share some common responsibilities such as defending themselves against predators and hunting snakes.
When faced with a threat, civet colonies will gather and coordinate defenses to protect vulnerable members. Boldness and cooperative behavior make mongooses formidable opponents. Any predator that tries to eat a member of the herd will inevitably have to contend with the rest.
Striped mongooses can employ a self-defense tactic called “mobbing”, in which the entire group stands in a closed circle and competes to attack the predator, moving rhythmically and hissing to appear like a powerful opponent.