A popular wildlife live-streaming platform submitted this video to Latest Sightings. It was filmed near Ol Donyo Lodge in Kenya.
A quiet drink
A remote camera equipped with night-vision capabilities captured this video.
As we join the action, we see a young caracal (Caracal caracal) busy drinking from a waterhole. Caracals, medium-sized wild cats, remain rarely seen because they are mostly active at night.
Then we see another creature approaching from behind the caracal, who remains blissfully unaware of the newcomer’s arrival.
Intruder detected
Caracals have large ears with incredibly sharp hearing. Therefore, it comes as no surprise when it suddenly stops drinking and turns its head to see who is approaching.
After a brief glance, the cat decides the intruder poses no threat and returns to drinking.
White-tailed mongoose
Finally, the new arrival comes into frame, allowing us to identify it as a white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda).
As one of the largest mongoose species, they stand out by their size and distinctive white, bushy tails.
Initially, the mongoose shows little interest in the young caracal, presumably planning to slake its thirst, too.
However, as it gets closer, we see it turn its head towards the still-drinking caracal.
Not bothered
It seems the mongoose, like the caracal, doesn’t mind the others presence. Accordingly, it continues towards the water, closely sniffing the ground as it goes.
However, for some reason, the mongoose suddenly changes direction and starts moving as if to pass behind the caracal.
All the while, the caracal continues drinking, seemingly unaware of what is going on behind it.
Something sneaky unfolding
As the mongoose moves closer to the caracal, it becomes clear that it is showing interest in the cat.
This is unusual, as although both are predators, it seems highly unlikely that the mongoose would target the larger caracal.
Getting closer
What is also unusual is the fact that, despite its excellent hearing, the caracal is ignoring the approaching mongoose entirely.
By now, there is no denying that the mongoose is intentionally creeping up on the thirsty cat.
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Unprovoked attack
To our amazement, the mongoose creeps right up to the caracal, before extending its neck, opening its jaws and biting the caracal at the base of its tail.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, when the caracal suddenly springs into action. Leaping high, it rotates 180 degrees in mid-air, ready to face its aggressor.
The sudden movement, in turn, frightens the mongoose, causing it too, to jump up in the air. Obviously, the sudden flurry of motion accompanied by angry hissing was not expected.
Running for safety
With both animals now having had a big fright, they are eager to escape as soon as possible. No sooner have their feet touched the ground than they are running for safety.
As first the caracal and then the mongoose disappear from view, we are left wondering why the mongoose behaved the way it did.
One suggestion is that this was a simple case of territorial interpredator competition. Essentially, the caracal was utilising a resource (the waterhole) that the mongoose also wanted for itself.
It is unlikely the mongoose sought to hunt the caracal. But, as Nature often reminds us, stranger things have happened.