Mangouste d'Egypte

In Spain, the Egyptian Mongoose was killed to make brushes from the stiff hairs of its tail (Machado 1869). Currently, in Europe, the species is locally subjected to incidental and deliberate poisoning because it is considered a pest by hunters and shepherds (Bandeira et al. 2018, Palomares 2020). In Portugal, hunting is legal and can be conducted from October to February, notably under the motive of regulation actions. Hunters may also obtain exceptional derogations to trap and kill Egyptian Mongooses between March and May (Do Linh San et al. 2016). Road casualties are a relatively common cause of mortality, as the species’ daytime activity coincides with the highest traffic levels (Palomares 2020). An average of six fatal collisions/ 100 km/year was estimated in southern Portugal (Grilo et al. 2009).

The Egyptian Mongoose is globally evaluated as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Do Linh San et al. 2016). The species is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and on Annex V of the EU Habitats and Species Directive under a “Favourable” conservation status. In Spain, its status falls under the general protection provided by the law on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity but does not benefit from any specific conservation plan. There is pressure from hunters and shepherds to remove the protection for the alleged damage caused to livestock and game species. In Portugal, the species is included on Annex B – V relative to the species of community interest whose capture in the wild may be authorized and is listed as a game species on Annex B – V.D. The Egyptian Mongoose is considered “Least Concern” in the Portuguese and Spanish Red List of Threatened Species and is not subject of any conservation plan.

In Europe, this species is present in several protected areas across its range. Its great reliance on connectivity between shrub areas should encourage the preservation of the Mediterranean shrub cover landscape (Barros et al. 2017), notably in intensively exploited lands and through an increase in the number of protected areas within the species’ range. In Portugal, a large number of individuals are culled during the hunting season. Given the likely native status of the species in Europe and the potential ecosystem services linked to its feeding strategy (i.e. as a predator of rodents, insects and reptiles), adhering to a non-pest status for the species in Portugal would seem justified.