WHITE TAILED MONGOOSE Ichneumia albicauda

They are one of the larger mongoose species of Southern Africa, attaining a length of just over 1.5 meters and may reach a weight of over 5 kg. They have a long tail, which may make up to 40% of the body length and as their name suggests, is white in colour. The White Tailed Mongoose is a nocturnal creature and is usually only active well after sunset. They will normally start foraging after about 20h30 and have been recorded being active till around 01h30, which is much later than any of the other small carnivores. This animal is usually solitary but it is not uncommon to find them moving around in small family groups. During the day they will rest in old or disused antbear burrows and do not dig their own burrows. They will feed on birds, frogs, small rodents and reptiles. Not much is known about their breeding habits, except that the young appear to be born during the wet, warm months of the year, when the young are thought to be born in burrows.