RESEARCHERS FROM VIRGINIA TECH – FUNDED BY NSF – ARE TRACKING SEVERAL TROOPS OF BANDED MONGOOSE IN NORTHERN BOTSWANA, SOUTHERN AFRICA -- TO ANALYZE THIER MOVEMENTS BETWEEN URBAN CENTERS AND THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS – AS WELL AS BETWEEN DIFFERENT TROOPS. WHY YOU ASK? BOTSWANA MONGOOSE HAVE A NOVEL TUBERCULOSIS PATHOGEN WHICH ALLOWS THE RESEARCH TEAM TO TRACK HOW INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE TRANSMISSION.