Rare mongoose found in Tanzania
The Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced today that a camera-trap study in the mountains of Southern Tanzania has now recorded Africa鈥檚 least-known and probably rarest carnivore: Jackson鈥檚 mongoose, known only from a few observations and museum specimens.
The findings, reported in the latest issue of the journal Oryx, mark not only a range extension for the bushy-tailed carnivore, previously known to exist only in Kenya, but also another species for the Udzungwa Mountains, a veritable 鈥渓ost world鈥� of rare and unique wildlife.
WCS scientist Dr. Daniela De Luca鈥攖ogether with Dr. Francesco Rovero from Italy鈥檚 Trento Museum of Natural Sciences鈥攃aptured several images of the Jackson鈥檚 mongoose in Matundu Forest within the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Most of the photos were taken between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., indicating that the animal is largely nocturnal.
鈥淭hese mongooses may represent a separate subspecies from the one that exists in Kenya,鈥� said Dr. De Luca of WCS鈥� Tanzania Program. 鈥淕iven the fragmentation and small sizes of the forest patches in which they live, full protection of nearby forests would improve conditions for conserving this species.鈥�
In 2004, WCS conservationists working in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania discovered a new species of primate鈥攖he kipunji monkey鈥攚hich in 2006 they described as a new genus as well. The kipunji turned out to be present also in the Udzungwa Mountains. A few years prior, WCS researchers working in the same area 鈥減hoto-trapped鈥� a Lowe鈥檚 servaline genet, the first of its kind recorded in 70 years.
Jackson鈥檚 mongoose has round, broad ears, with yellow fur on the neck and throat, and a white bushy tail. It is a close relative of the bushy-tailed mongoose, and is poorly known; previous records for the Jackson鈥檚 mongoose are limited to forests in Kenya over 900 kilometers (559 miles) to the north. There are 14 museum specimens in existence from Kenya, and next to nothing is known about its biology.
In addition to increased protection for Matundu, one of East Africa鈥檚 largest lowland forests, the scientists recommend initiating studies into the mongoose鈥檚 genetics and ecology to better understand the animal鈥檚 needs and how best to protect it.
Source: Wildlife Conservation Society
