Mongooses Band Together to Defend Young Against Pythons

Tourist Pierre Nel and his wife witnessed a rare attack by a pack of mongooses on a python in Marloth Park, South Africa. More than 20 mongooses were growling and attacking the python, overwhelming it in numbers and strength. The mongoose is known for being protective of its family, especially the young, and they aggressively attacked the python from every angle.

Despite the mongoose’s relentless attack, the python did not fight back. Realizing it was outnumbered, the python attempted to escape by crawling to a small branch on the forest floor and waiting for an opportunity. Ultimately, the python managed to flee into the dense bushes, with the mongooses watching until it disappeared.

Striped mongooses, about the size of a cat, are known for their social behavior, living in herds with a dominant male. They eat insects, millipedes, beetles, birds, eggs, snails, fruit, and snakes. When faced with a threat, mongooses gather in a coordinated defense to protect vulnerable members, showing boldness and cooperative behavior.

The mongooses employ a self-defense tactic called “mobbing”, in which they form a closed circle to attack the predator. Any predator threatening the herd will have to contend with the collective strength of the mongooses. Their cooperative behavior and protective instincts make them formidable opponents against predators.