The native range of the small Indian mongoose covers a large part of Asia from Iran, through northern India to China and Indonesia. In mountainous areas, the range extends to altitudes of up to 2,100 metres. It is native to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, southern China, northern India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the small Indian mongoose was introduced to many islands, including Fiji, the Comoros, Mauritius, Okinawa and the West Indies, mainly to fight rats on sugar cane plantations. Small Indian mongoose captured in India were introduced to Europe in the Adriatic islands (Brač, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet, Pelješac) in order to control horned vipers (Vipera ammodytes). At first, 11 individuals (7 males and 4 females) were released on the island of Mljet in August 1910. As soon as the following year, a female with young was spotted on the island and the population increased rapidly thereafter. By 1920, the snake population had dwindled on the island. Once the snakes were consumed, the mongoose population declined too, which is why more were introduced to other islands in the Adriatic in 1921-1927 (on Hvar, as late as 1970) and later on even on the mainland in the former Yugoslavia. However, they soon disappeared from the island of Brač. Populations have varied greatly and cold winters have increased the species’ mortality. There is no precise information on its current distribution in Europe, but small Indian mongoose populations exist on several Adriatic islands (at least Hvar, Korčula, Mljet) and, in the 1990s, they were still present on the mainland in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.In addition to the introduced small Indian mongoose, the species has been spread unintentionally by ship. The species has been able to adapt quickly to new regions due to its varied diet and because many islands did not have native predatory mammals. Due to its efficient reproduction and ability to thrive in environments modified by humans, populations have grown and became established in many areas.

Pathways and adaptation in Finland

It is unlikely that the small Indian mongoose will spread to Finland. It is impossible for the species to spread to this country on its own because in Europe it is only present in the Adriatic islands, and apparently in parts of the mainland in the Balkans. It could theoretically arrive on board ships, or be smuggled. However, Finland’s harsh winters would limit its possibilities of surviving here.

Small Indian mongoose (Small Asian mongoose) – Herpestes javanicus