The mongoose Mongoose are small animals. A Mongooses are able to eat lots of meerkat is a type of a mongoose. things. They can eat small animals There are around 30 types of such as rats, birds, frogs and lizards, mongoose. They come in different and things like worms, seeds, eggs sizes and colours. They are fierce and nuts. The mongoose is a clever fighters and can fight snakes. hunter. Mongooses have long bodies, with Mongooses are well known for short legs, and long tails. Their feet fighting snakes. Mongooses are have claws. They look a bit like quick on their feet. They are able to weasels, with long snouts and round kill snakes by biting them. ears. They have good ears and eyes. Mongooses are also not harmed by They are good at finding prey and cobra venom. There is a famous avoiding danger. Mongooses have story in The Jungle Book about a thick coats. Their fur is mostly brown mongoose called ‘Rikki-Tikki-Tavi’ or grey. who saves a family of humans from a cobra. Mongooses can be found in Africa, Asia, parts of Europe and in the Though mongooses are found in Caribbean. They live in forests, many countries and will not harm swamps, rocky ground or grasslands. humans, mongooses are under They make their homes in burrows threat because their homes are being underground or cracks in rocks. destroyed. • Why do you think this report was written? • Who do you think might find this report useful? • A report contains facts. Find three facts from the report. • What are three words you didn’t know? TEXT © PAUL MASON The mongoose Mongoose are small weasel-like Mongooses are able to eat a wide range mammals. There are around 30 of things. While their main diet is other different species. A meerkat is a type small animals such as rodents, birds, of a mongoose. Mongooses come in frogs and lizards, some species of different sizes and colours. They are mongoose will also eat worms, seeds, fierce fighters and can attack eggs and nuts. The mongoose is a venomous snakes. clever hunter. Mongooses are long in shape, with Mongooses are well known for their short legs, clawed feet, and long tails. ability to kill snakes. Mongooses are Their faces are pointed, with long quick on their feet and can move fast, snouts and small, round ears. They making them well-suited to fighting have strong senses of sight and hearing the cobra. They are able to kill snakes which helps them find prey and avoid with a bite to the neck. Mongooses are danger. Mongooses have thick coats rarely harmed by cobra venom. that are mostly brown or grey in colour. Rudyard Kipling’s story ‘Rikki-Tikki- The species range in size from the Tavi’ from The Jungle Book is about a 16cm Long Dwarf Mongoose to the mongoose who saves a family of 60cm Egyptian Mongoose. humans by killing an evil cobra. Mongooses can be found over Africa, Though found in many places and non- Asia and Southern Europe. They were harmful to humans, mongooses are alsp brought to some parts of the dropping in numbers due to habitat Caribbean. Mongooses can be found in loss, and some species like the different habitats such as forests, Malagasay Narrow Striped Mongoose swamps, rocky ground or grasslands. are currently listed as being vulnerable. They make their homes in burrows underground or cracks in rocks. • Why do you think this report was written? • Who was it written for? Who might find it useful? • An information report contains facts. Find three main facts from the text. • What are some examples of topic words? TEXT © PAUL MASON The mongoose Mongooses are small, weasel-like Mongooses are omnivorous. While their mammals. There are around 30 different diet mainly consists of preying on other species of mongoose, varying in size and small animals such as rodents, birds, frogs colour, including the meerkat. They have a and lizards, some species of mongoose reputation for being fierce fighters, will eat worms, seeds, eggs and nuts. willing to attack venomous snakes. Mongooses are clever, resourceful hunters. Mongooses are long in shape, with short legs, clawed feet, and long tails. They Mongooses are well known for their ability have pointed heads with elongated to kill snakes. Mongooses are very nimble, snouts and small, round ears. They have with lightning reactions, making them strong senses of sight and hearing which well-suited to fighting the cobra and they enable them to find prey and avoid are able to kill snakes with a bite to the danger. Mongooses have dense coats that neck. Mongooses also have a very high are often flecked or mottled and are tolerance level to the venom produced by predominantly brown or grey in colour. a cobra. Rudyard Kipling’s story ‘Rikki- The species range in size from the 16cm Tikki-Tavi’ from The Jungle Book depicts a Long Dwarf Mongoose to the 60cm mongoose saving his adopted family by Egyptian Mongoose. killing an evil cobra. Mongooses can be found in Africa, Asia Though widespread, and non-aggressive and Southern Europe and were introduced to humans, Mongooses are dropping in in some parts of the Caribbean. numbers due to habitat loss and human Mongooses can live in varied habitats encroachment, and some species like the such as forests, swamps, rocky ground or Malagasay Narrow Striped Mongoose are grasslands. They make their homes in currently listed as being vulnerable. underground burrows or crevices in rocks. • What is the purpose of this report? Why was it written? • Who do you think is the intended audience? Who was it written for? • An information report contains facts. Find four main facts from the text. • How does the writer make the information clear and easy to follow? • What are some examples of vocabulary that is specific to the topic? TEXT © PAUL MASON.