Where does the banded mongoose live?
The banded mongoose lives from the Sahel to Southern Africa, across a large part of East, Southeast and South-Central Africa, with populations in the northern savannas of West Africa too. It lives in savannas, open forests and grassland, especially near water, but also in dry, thorny bushland, but not deserts. It most commonly shelters in termite mounds, but also in rock shelters, thickets, gullies and warrens under bushes.
What does the banded mongoose eat?
It feeds primarily on beetles and millipedes. While most mongoose species live solitary lives, the banded mongoose lives in colonies with a complex social structure, in large family groups. It is recognisable by its grey coat with dark bands across the back. As it lives in larger groups than the dwarf mongoose, a den with more entrances gives more members access to the den and ventilation.
Is the banded mongoose endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is very widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. In the Serengeti of Tanzania, the population density is around three mongooses per km².
