FOR 22 years Durban North’s snakeman, Jason Arnold, has rescued thousands of venomous snakes, hudreds of spiders, rats, rock monitors (legavaan) and the occasional cat stuck up a tree. But on Wednesday he got his first mongoose rescue call out.

An Orthamn Road resident frantically called Arnold to say a frightened young banded mongoose was in urgent need of rescue.

“The little guy was petrified and the resident’s dogs had tried to attack him, fortunately he got to safety by running into their home and hiding under a bed. Thankfully he’s not injured. Being a very social species, I’d like to return him to his family. The problem is finding them,” he said.

Arnold urged residents living in the vicinity of Orthman Road, Melrose Avenue, Melrose Place, Terrence Place and Ryde Place to keep a lookout for a troop of mongooses so he could reunite him with his family.

“If anybody sees banded mongooses in the area, it’s most likely this little guys family.”

Contact him on 082 745 6375.