Species Project ap environmental Science
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Indian Mongoose Herpestes javanicus Invasive Species Background Information: 
The Indian mongoose is a species of mongoose whose native habitat is found in southern Asia mainly India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and some other parts of Asia. It is commonly found in open forests, scrublands and cultivated fields, often close to human habitation. It lives in burrows, hedgerows and thickets, among groves of trees, taking shelter under rocks or bushes and even in drains. It is a carnivore predator who is very aggressive. Identifying characteristics: The Indian mongoose has a slender body is with short legs. The head is long with a pointed muzzle. The tail is thick at the base and gets skinnier towards the end. The ears are shot and the feet have five toes with long sharp non-retractile claws. The Indians mongoose’s fur is soft, pale to dark brown flecked with golden spots. Females range in length from 509 to and males range from 544 to 671mm. Reasons for their status: It was introduced to Hawaii, and many other islands, in the 1800s to help control the rat population that was destroying the sugar cane fields. However, the Indian mongoose are active mostly during the day, while the rat is active at night so while they had very little impact on the overall rat population. The Indian mongoose then started to eat birds and bird eggs. The Indian mongooses also carry leptospirosis, rabies, and other severe diseases and infections which threatens humans. Hawaii has no natural predator of the Indian mongoose. 
Solutions/Successes/Possible Course of Action for Protection or Removal: In India, it is protected in Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand, and listed as Vulnerable on the Chinese Red List. In Hawaii, however, there are actions of removal in place. The Indian Mongoose is on the top 100 worst species list and costs Hawaii $50 million in damages each year. Humans try to control the population with trapping which is used extensively on many nature reserves. Animals have also been shot or poisoned. Laws have also been put in place. It is currently illegal to import mongooses into the United States. Range:
The historic range of the mongoose was most of southern mainland Asia, from Iraq to China, as well as on the island of Java, at altitudes up to 2200 m. It is currently still in that range but the Indian mongoose is also now in Hawaii, Jamaica, and in Caribbean Islands. 
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