Dwarf Mongooses live in close-knit clans, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t the occasional squabble between family members! While walking around Pretoriuskop Rest Camp on a recent visit to the south of the Kruger National Park, I spied two of the tiny tykes continuously working on each other’s nerves, until eventually and inevitably the fight escalated into blows.
A Dwarf Mongoose searching for food in Pretoriuskop
Dwarf Mongoose eyeing another one in the camping area at Pretorkiuskop
The conversation turns heated
And that’s how the fight started!
Dwarf Mongooses settling an argument in the camping area at Pretoriuskop
One of the combatants calling “Uncle!”
Argument settled?
DeWetsWild 
Gerrie en Kallie??
Ek wonder wie gewen het??
😉
Ek dink nie Gerrie en Kallie het ooit so op mekaar gegil terwyl hulle fight soos hierdie tweetjies nie!
What a great sequence. They can look quite pugnacious even when not actually scrapping like that. Were they vocalizing at all while quarreling? Mind you their expressions speak volumes without needing to add a sound!
Thank you, Carol. Indeed, they were giving off very high pitched, sharp squeels – like mice on steroids!
Interesting thanks, and a great description of the sounds 🙂
Great shots of this encounter, Dries. They’re fierce creatures, aren’t they?
Thanks Jane!
Their personalities are definitely much bigger than their bodies, that’s for sure!
What an interesting family story the photos tell.
Glad to know, thank you!
Een moes noodwendig opgee lyk dit. Die white-tail mongoose hier is nog steeds doenig in my tuin. Nou dat ek weet wat dit is, los ek maar. As mens te veel keer flitse skyn en fotos probeer kry jaag mens hom/haar/hulle net weg.
Wat n voorreg om so skaars en skugter dier in jou tuin te kan huisves, Petru!
Ek het nie honde nie so dit help. Dis baie stil hier (al moes ek ‘n fight opsit om dit so te hou – is die moeite werd.)
What fun that must have been to watch. Any interaction between animals is far more exciting to see than static poses.
So easy to see us humans reflected in their behaviour too!
That is true and is probably why we find them so appealing.
Hulle het met ons vorige wildtuin besoek die arme mense in die rondawels weerskante van ons omtrent uitgeroei! Nie almal weet van bêre alle kos liewer binne nie. Dit was juis in Pretoriuskop.
Sulke vabonde!
Great opportunity and you made the most of it. Excellent shots.
janet
Very kind of you, thank you Janet!
Great photos of them! I saw a mongoose the last time I was in Hawaii. They were introduced there to control rats but it didn’t quite work out.
Thanks Siobhan!
Such introductions often have very complicated unintended consequences.