In a bizarre incident recorded at Marloth Park, adjacent to the Kruger National Park, a gang of banded mongooses united to repel an attack by a Chacma baboon.
According to Charmaine, she was in her garden when she saw a baboon running along, carrying a dead mongoose. She was further alarmed to see another baboon approaching–this time chasing a pack of banded mongooses.
As the video begins, we see the mongooses amassed at the base of a bush, while several agitated baboons gather.
The mongooses are piled on top of one another, giving the appearance of one writhing creature, in a behavior called mobbing.
As we see in the video, the mongooses put their defence strategy to good effect, with the united mob aggressively lunging at the lone baboon. The reason for their collective ire: the baboon is attempting to grab one of them.
The mongooses are fearless and actively move toward the baboon, while from time to time, one of them charges forward with jaws agape. Renowned for their courage, mongooses successfully repel attacks from an assortment of predators, including large cobras.
Increasingly frustrated, it starts grabbing at the mongooses as they charge. In time, it manages to grab one. The mongoose appears to bite the baboon, who spins and flings it away.
Emboldened by the baboon’s apparent inability to deal with them, the mongooses continue to lunge forward. At this point, the baboon displays its intelligence.
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Realising that a painful bite awaits when grabbing a mongoose by the body, it changes strategy and begins seizing the mongoose by the tail. As before, it spins and flings the mongoose away.
However, even this new and unusual tactic has limited success. No sooner has the baboon picked up one mongoose than others are charging forward.
Although we do not see it in the video, Charmaine reports that she soon discovered why the mongooses showed such determined resilience. As the mob writhed, she glimpsed at least one baby mongoose.
Ultimately, Charmaine says, “The resilience and protective instincts of the mongooses were just too much. I watched as the realisation set in for the baboon and he turned away. With a defeated look on his face and the mongoose hot on his tail, he had no option but to run away and look for an easier meal.”
The mongooses likely benefitted from the baboon’s youth and inexperience. Strangely, when facing danger, baboons adopt a similar mobbing strategy.
But that was of little benefit to the baboon as it slunk off to rejoin its troop.
Banded mongooses form large groups of up to 75 individuals. They are active during the day and retire to burrows at night.
Their diet consists of insects, small rodents, eggs, birds, amphibians and reptiles.
If you encounter such a “band of brothers (and sisters)”, be sure to spend some time in their company. They are constantly active and it is a joy to witness their antics and bonding behaviour.