Look, you humans have a terrible habit of jumping to conclusions. Just because a Ruddy Mongoose has sharp claws, quick reflexes and a well-earned reputation for digging out prey doesn’t mean every hole he is seen in is a crime scene. Also, I’ve been trying to move away from that reputation of “dodgy jungle salesman” anyway. Turn over a new leaf. Leave the whole venom business in the past. No more “premium cobra extracts”, no more misunderstandings, no more customer complaints!

…you didn’t happen to hear which direction that squeak came from, did you?

Alright, since you’re clearly not leaving, let me educate you a little. You see, we Ruddy Mongooses have an exceptional sense of smell. Very refined. We can detect subtle movements beneath the ground. Tiny disturbances. Completely natural for a professional… soil inspector. And yes, we do have strong fore-claws. Built for digging, you might say. But that’s just a coincidence. Evolution is funny like that. Gives you the right tools and suddenly everyone assumes you’re up to something. Story of my life, really. We’re also what you’d call… opportunistic. Which simply means we appreciate variety. Insects, rodents, reptiles, eggs… a well-rounded diet is important for maintaining peak performance. Not that I’m currently pursuing any of those. Let’s stay focused. Thriving across dry forests and grasslands takes skill. Awareness. Timing. Quick reflexes. You don’t survive out here by being careless… or by letting perfectly good opportunities just wander off. That’s not reputation, that’s survival. There’s a difference. Now… if there happened to be something down here… which I am not confirming… it would only be because I detected it through entirely legitimate, highly advanced sensory techniques.

…there it is again! You heard that too, didn’t you?

This rather inconveniently timed encounter was captured by a Mahoora Naturalist Vimansha during a safari in Yala National Park. Rodney was in the middle of what he insists was a routine soil inspection when he realised he had an audience. Ruddy Mongooses are sometimes seen around the Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Yala, often seen darting through the undergrowth or pausing just long enough to assess whether they’ve been noticed.