Thanks all for the comments, along with the folklore ( there is acutally a lot more detail to it including the fight ) I wanted to highlight the difference in coat colour of the 2 subspecies. Herpestes vitticollis inornatus is the more commonly seen of the two and has a dull coat .The kerela subspecies Herpestes vitticollis vitticollis has a bright red coat and some specimens have such striking red that the local name is a perfect fit.

Rgds
Roopak