Mongoose captured in Samoa – sparks conservation concerns and public vigilance
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has successfully captured a mongoose, a potentially devastating invasive species, following a swift response to a sighting report. The incident highlights the critical importance of public awareness and cooperation in protecting Samoa’s unique biodiversity.
On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the MNRE received an alert from the Samoa Water Authority’s Vaitele office reporting a suspected mongoose sighting in their compound. Recognizing the potential threat to Samoa’s ecosystem, the MNRE-DEC team quickly mobilized, collaborating with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) for technical advice and equipment.
By 6:48 pm the same day, the team successfully captured a large mongoose, suspected to be female. Further investigation is underway to confirm its sex and species.
The Ministry would like to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Mongoose have led to the extinction of ground-nesting birds worldwide and pose a significant threat to Samoa’s fragile ecosystem. Our native birds, the Pacific Boa, other reptiles, and even sea turtle eggs could be at risk if mongoose were to establish here. The Ministry in collaboration with key partners is committed to preventing this invasive species from gaining a foothold in Samoa.
We would like to assure the public that efforts to locate and capture any other mongoose will continue. The pathway by which this mongoose entered Samoa remains under investigation.
Mongoose are small carnivorous mammals known for their long faces and bodies, round ears, short legs, and long tapering tails. They ..
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