Small Asian mongoose
Herpestes javanicus
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Photo credit: ©Chung Bill Bill
Herpestes javanicus
Common Names:
Habitat:
Description:
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
Potential or Known Impacts:
How could it get here?
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
Methods for Prevention:
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
Herpestes javanicus
Common Names:
- Small Asian mongoose, Small Indian mongoose
Habitat:
- It prefers arid or semi-arid habitats, but highly adaptable.
- It is found in woodland, agricultural areas, riparian and wetland areas, deserts, and urban areas
Description:
- The Small Asian mongoose is a small mammal whose natural range extends from Iran to northern India and Indochina.
- The species is already a major pest in many locations across the world and it is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature among the world’s 100 worst invaders.
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
- The Small Asian mongoose is a small mammal whose natural range extends from Iran to northern India and Indochina.
- The species was deliberately introduced to a number of Croatian islands in the early 20th century to control populations of the venomous horned viper.
- Because the species is so adaptable, it could readily spread to other Southern European countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Romania, Slovenia, Portugal and Spain) if the opportunity arose.
Potential or Known Impacts:
- It is an opportunistic feeder. It has also devoured significant numbers of native reptiles, amphibians and farmland birds, causing a major loss of biodiversity as well as significant economic damage.
- The species is already a major pest in many locations across the world and it is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature among the world’s 100 worst invaders.
How could it get here?
- Intentional release as biological control, however EU bans on sales, removal from zoos and collections, and rapid eradication means that this is an impossible future.
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- Not present in Northern Ireland.
Methods for Prevention:
- A sales ban, the phasing out from zoos, collections and any other ownership, and a rapid eradication of any newly emerging populations should prevent the species from spreading further within the EU.
- Report all sightings.
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
- This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.