The fierce and combative mongoose
The mongoose of our countryside always runs away. We can't see it, but it has fire on its tail, and it knows it. She stops, a little wary, suddenly keeps a lookout, then leaves just as suddenly, a little more confident, always with the same ballant, continuing her frantic rally against her invisible steed. The mongoose is a mammal of the carnivorous order. It has not always been part of our environment. It is its reputation of ferocious fighter of the most dangerous snakes, which, having exceeded the limits of its country of origin, Asia, made export the mongoose of Java(Herpestes javanicus). It was then introduced in Martinique, at the end of the 19th century around 1890, to fight against the proliferation of rats and thus against the trigonocephalus, the lanceolate botrops , the dangerous spearhead which invaded the sugar cane plantations. It proved to be very efficient. Usually she eats toads, chickens, anolis, eggs, chicks, worms, she sometimes offers herself a fruit, just to have a dessert.
Physionomy
Standing on four legs, the mongoose is covered with long silky light brown hair. Its very slender body ends with a long bushy tail. It can measure thirty centimeters or more, its claws are not retractable. She has small ears, moves them, directs them in all directions, looking for information. Usually it is neither dangerous nor aggressive, the intelligent beast can, but very rarely, serve as a pet. It prefers nature and is only noticed if it frequents your henhouse.
The mongoose snake fight
It is her, this little beast, with the frightened appearance, that we will see in the pitts to face, and to undertake the fight against the formidable fer-de-lance, and very often to win. In an overheated atmosphere, the botrops attacks her several times and tries to bite her. The mongoose dodges it, looks for the loophole. The "Other" must not bite her in the head, which she cannot lick. She fights against the "long beast" and wins. It is said that she is immune because her saliva can protect her from the dangerous venom.
