Yellow mongoose

Did you know?
that a yellow mongoose can crack a bird’s egg by rolling it next to a stone or rock and then throwing the egg between its legs so the egg will hit the stone or rock?

Photo Copyright by
Feuerdante

Why do zoos keep this animal

Yellow mongoose are not an endangered species. They are however very attractive animals, and because they are always busy and display an interesting social life, are an ideal species for educational purposes. Yellow mongoose exhibits may be combined with underground tunnels and look-outs for children allowing them to play mongoose, which are important means to awake a positive attitude towards animals and nature.

Yellow mongoose may be kept in mixed exhibits, e.g. together with leopard tortoises, porcupines, rock dassies, small antelopes, like steenbok, or hornbills. Note that yellow mongoose will dig out tortoise eggs and readily catch small birds, like weavers, and other small animals, such as lizards.

How this animal should be kept

Yellow mongoose are social animals, which should be kept in pairs or small groups of compatible animals. In temperate and cold climates, they must have both an indoor and an outdoor enclosure. Minimum requirements per pair: indoors surface 8 m², for each additional animal 10% more, outdoor enclosure 16 m², for each additional animal 10% more. Considering that groups of animals that are overpopulating their space have a greater tendency to have social challenges leading to more difficult management, it is recommended however to design enclosures considerably larger.

Indoor room temperature must be at least 15°C, and humidity should be kept as low as possible. Hot spots (radiators) should be provided indoors and outdoors.

Enclosures for yellow mongoose must be furnished with communal sleeping areas with internal nest/den boxes, food and water stations, and covered sleeping/hiding spots, which should be located on the ground. Other relevant features of yellow mongoose enclosures are look-outs and basking spots. Visual barriers are very important for the good functioning of yellow mongoose groups. Yelow mongoose benefit from visual barriers such as deadfall, rockwork, etc. which allows more subordinate individuals to escape from constant monitoring by more dominant individuals.

Natural materials should be chosen as substrates for yellow mongoose because they allow for natural digging behaviour, are easy on their feet, and certain materials will help to maintain good nail condition and length. Substrates can be placed on concrete floors to facilitate periodic cleaning; in this case, all substrate should be removed at least once a year for cleaning and disinfecting of the surface below. Where it is not possible to provide sufficient natural substrate, a digging area with drainage is recommended. Hollow logs may also serve this purpose.

Food should consist of mice, one-day old chicks, chopped meat, scattered eggs, insects, worms and chopped fruit. The animals must at all times have access to clean drinking water.

All faecal material and unconsumed food should be removed daily. Sanitation of feeding stations should take place at least every other day, daily is preferred. Sanitation of water containers, including bowls, water bottles, and other water features should take place at least weekly. Sanitation of latrine areas should take place at least once weekly, more often if necessary. Mongoose scent mark their enclosure. When cleaning, some of the scent-marking areas should not be sanitized.