The final colonists, the British, introduced Indian species such as musk shrew and the small Indian mongoose to control rats in sugar cane fields. However, being generalist feeders, mongooses adapt easily, and are preying on native species which have only just managed to survive to the current day due to intensive conservation efforts. Mongooses have not been well studied. There is a paucity of information on species in their native ranges. Though studied in the past, there are no current projects being carried out on the small Indian mongoose.
More information is vital if the species is to be managed effectively.
Rates of recolonisation after population removal from selected areas. Spatial and temporal impact on native fauna. Distribution and density of the mongoose in different habitat types on Mauritius. The native fauna of Mauritius are well studied and data on population biology of rare birds are readily available. Data on trapped mongooses have been recorded since the 1970s.