White-tailed Mongoose

  

These striking white visitors at Lentorre, Kenya are White-tailed Mongooses (Ichneumia albicauda), species number 67 to me. 😊

While the name suggests only the tail is white, their appearance under the infrared or high-contrast lighting of a night-hide camera often makes their entire bodies look ghostly white or silver. Here is why they look so unique in this photo:

The "ghost" effect: They have a thick, bushy tail that is almost entirely white. Because the rest of their coat is a grizzled grey/silver, it highly reflects the artificial light used at the Lentorre waterhole, giving them that glowing, ethereal look against the dark background.

The silhouette: Notice the distinctive "hunched" or arched back and the long, bushy tail trailing behind. This is the classic profile of a White-tailed Mongoose.

Nocturnal regulars: Lentorre is famous for its "Hide" where these animals are frequent visitors. They are the largest of the mongoose species and, unlike their famous social cousins (the Meerkats), they are mostly solitary and only active at night.

Fun Fact

The White-tailed Mongoose is a bit of a "stink-bomb" expert. If they feel threatened by a leopard or hyena at that waterhole, they can release a foul-smelling secretion from their anal glands that is potent enough to make a predator think twice!😁