Duration of the Project Implementing Agency Project initiated on

One year   Nature Environment & Wildlife Society   September 2005.   It is an ongoing self funded project.

                          

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Species Name Taxonomic Authority Systematic position	: Herpestes palustris : Ghose, 1965 : Class : Order : Family : Sub Family	Mammals   Carnivore   Herpestidae   Herpestinae
Common Name	: English – Marsh Mongoose / Bengal Mongoose

                     

Habit & habitat: Lives around large but shallow water bodies covered with thick growth of aquatic plants. Fossorial, terrestrial – occupies other burrows mainly along the slopes of water bodies. Diurnal, comes out of the burrow after few hours of sunrise. Follows a particular route for foraging. Preys on mollusks, crabs, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammalian species which it may overpower. Frequently goes to the water mass in search of fish .Mostly moves singly but occasionally found in troupe particularly in the afternoon. Returns to the burrow just before the sunset.

               

Conservation measures: Included in the schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as amended on 2002. However no species programme has so far been taken for the conservation of species and its habitat.

Red listing: Following IUCN criteria, C.A.M.P (1998), the species is considered as `Endangered'.

Background: The Marsh Mongoose, Herpestes palustris is the only species of the genus Herpestes which is endemic to India or more precisely to West Bengal. The species was first discovered from the marshy and swampy areas in the eastern part of Kolkata City in the year 1965. The species was fairly common in the area during that time as evidenced from the number of specimens in the series.
Later , the species was recorded from Botanical Garden ( Howrah) ,Diamond Harbour (South 24 Pgs ) ,Sukchar ( North 24 Pgs ) by Ghane and Chaturvedi (1973) , Agarwaletal (1992) . However, large –scale reclamation of the east Kolkata wetland started in sixties. Subsequently, greater part of the type locality of Marsh Mongoose had given space for the new satellite township – Bidhannagar (Salt Lake). During 1945, the total wetland of eastern part of Kolkata was about, which reduced to only 3905 ha mainly due to severe urbanization.              

Objectives:

1. To identify the existing suitable habitats of the Marsh Mongoose in North and South 24 Parganas, Hugli, Nadia and Howrah districts.
2. To find out the number of populations and their size.
3. To identify the specific threats in the different identified habitats.
4. To make the local people aware about the significance of conservation of the species.

Methodology: Surveys will be conducted in the different marshy and swampy areas of the districts of lower West Bengal. Interviews with the local people and direct observations will be made to identify the habitats with surviving population of the Marsh Mongoose .Systematic trapping with Japanese wire traps will be conducted for 480 trap hours in all the identified habitats for consecutive six months. Sex, reproductive condition, size, weight of each of the trapped specimens will be recorded. All the trapped specimens will be released at the point of capture after making some suitable marking. Analysis of the population size, population dynamics will be made from data recorded during capture and recapture. Group meetings will be made with the different sections of people living in and around the positive habitats. Probable threats will be identified from direct observations as well as group discussions. Attempts will be made to develop small NGO's with specific purpose of conservation of Marsh Mongoose and its habitat.

      
                        

Report of the work done by NEWS till March, 2006.  
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1.        Study of Literature:

1. Literatures on the species have been downloaded from the Internet.
   Papers & Literatures have been surveyed from the Zoological Survey of India
2. Fauna of West Bengal- Part 1 has been consulted
3. Stuffed rolls of specimens collected by Zoological Survey Of India thoroughly observed

Results:

The results downloaded from the Internet makes it clear that Marsh Mongoose is a data deficient species. It has also been noted that, it is a terrestrial, fresh water dweller & found in Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens & peat lands.
Herpestes palustris & Herpestes. javanicus are two species of mongoose which are morphologically very close to each other. By consulting the specimens of skin rolls, preserved by Zoological Survey of India, the major morphological differences between Herpestes palustris & H. javanicus have clearly been noted.  

2.           Opinion Survey:  

Local people, fishermen & scientists of ZSI & Fisheries were interviewed in order to determine the time & occurrence of Marsh Mongoose.  
Based on this opinion survey the following locations were selected for starting the work we had chosen some important wetlands of East Kolkata Wetland (proposed Ramsar Site) to start with:

·         Nalban Fishery  
·         4 No Bhery  
·         Sarder Bhery  
·         Noter Bhery  
·         Sahebmara Bhery  
·         Chinta Sing Bhery  
·         Goltala Fish Project  
·         Chokher Bhery  
·         Gopeswar Bhery  

Depending on the results from opinion survey the best time for observing & trapping Mongoose were decided from 6.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. & from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  

3.      Random Trapping:

Random trapping has been done using wire traps having partition. Chicks of country chickens are used as baits & put inside the smaller compartment of the trap. The traps are placed near the burrows of Mongooses under the camouflage of leaves of water hyacinth. Field workers observe the traps from the distance of at least 20 fts & use binocular whenever necessary.  

In every month six to eight days are spent for trapping purpose. Not a single Small Indian Mongoose is trapped from the spots. Each & every is Marsh Mongoose & so the inference is drawn that the whole population of mongoose in north Salt Lake bhery areas is constituted of Herpestes palustris.  

4.        Burrow Counting:  

As because the whole population is of Marsh Mongoose only, so to estimate the population status we have followed the burrow count method. For this purpose primarily the field observation has been done to determine the difference between the burrows of Large Bandicoot-Rat & Herpestes palustris. It is observed that the mouths of burrows of Large Bandicoot-Rat are uneven than those of Marsh Mongoose & near the mouths of the burrows of Large Bandicoot-Rat, large number of clay particles are scattered. But in case of Marsh Mongoose the area surrounding the burrow is devoid of such particles. Moreover the Mongoose burrows in regular use are always with fresh scratch marks near the mouths of burrows. In the burrow count method the team has selected a stretch & has closed the mouths of the burrows of Mongooses by clay particles in the late evening when it is sure that all the mongooses have entered into the burrows. Next day in the morning (7.30 to 8 a.m.) the team has again observed the same stretch for counting the numbers of burrows which are already opened. For example if 20 burrows are covered in the evening & 5 burrows are observed open in the morning then the least count of mongoose is five.  
The areas of the burrow count are marked on the Map No. 2 & on an average in a stretch of Half Kilometer 11 to 13 no. of Marsh Mongooses have been counted with the help of this method.

5.          Measuring weight & length:  

For measuring the length & weight of Marsh Mongoose the trapped mongoose has been immobilized by Chloroform. Then the weight & length is measured. Before releasing it in its habitat the mongoose is marked with black hair dye to avoid measuring it again if trapped.  
Result: on an average an adult female weighs 500 gm. To 625 gm., length from tip to tail 56 to 58 cm. body length 30 to 32 cm. and tail length 25 to 27 cm. Similarly an adult male weighs 625 to 900 gm., length from tip to tail 61 to 63 cm. body length 32 to 36 cm. and tail length 26 to 28 cm.  
For example the data sheet of 11^th March is given below:

11^th March: 2006  

I Year age (Female) -            Body Weight              :            450 gm.  
                                                Tip to tail                    :            56.5 cm.  
                                                Body length                :            31.5 cm.  
                                                Tail length                  :            25 cm.  

Adult (Female) -                   Body Weight              :            550 gm.  
                                                Tip to tail                    :            57.5 cm.  
                                                Body length                :            30.5 cm.  
                                                Tail length                   :            27 cm.  

Adult (Male) -                       Body Weight              :            625 gm.  
                                                Tip to tail                   :            61.0 cm.  
                                                Body length               :            32.5 cm.  
                                                Tail length                  :            27.5 cm.  

Adult (Male) -                       Body Weight              :            725 gm.  
                                                Tip to tail                   :            62 cm.  
                                                Body length               :            36.0 cm.  
                                                Tail length                 :            26 cm.  

Adult (Male) -                       Body Weight              :            900 gm.  
                                                Tip to tail                   :            63.5 cm.  
                                                Body length               :            34.0 cm.  
                                                Tail length                 :            19.5 cm.  

Adult (Female) -                    Body Weight              :            625 gm.  
                                                Tip to tail                    :            54 cm.  
                                                Body length                :            30.5 cm.  
                                                Tail length                  :            23.5 cm.  

  6.                   Other observations:  

• Food habits: They feed on small fishes & crabs. But occasionally they take snakes & frogs. As an exceptional case a local people reported that a Marsh Mongoose has killed a Cattle Egret for food.
• To collect fishes they generally forage through the water hyacinth bed without being submerged in the water. Only the feet become wet. 
• The courtship and mating has started from March 1^st week.