Bill Oddie - Mongo Watch

A report out today by the charity St. Mungo's shows a dramatic decline in the numbers of mongos once common in the British countryside. Numbers of some species are so low they face extinction.

Bill Oddie, patron of St. Mungo's:

"I'm half mongo myself. My mother was a mongo and my father was an Otter. Never have mongos faced such an uncertain future. The government needs to urgently introduce new mongo legislation to protect them from the French."

In 1998 St. Mungo's announced the extinction of the short haired mongo in Britain. The last reported sighting was in the early 1980's in farmer Johnson's field, Middle Pissing.

Farmer Don Johnson:

"What do I know about mongos? There ain't been no mongo through these parts in more than twenty years. Last time I saw them they dug up my garden and shit all over my flowers. Now get off my fucking land."

Other species that have become extinct in the UK include the Albino mongo in 1900, the Kentish mongo in 1935, the large blue mongo in 1979 and the mouse-eared mongo in 1990.

Mongo Watch with Bill Oddie can be seen on BBC2. Viewers will be asked to take part in a national survey to estimate the current mongo population. Sightings should be recorded on film and sent to Mr Oddie.

Some mongo facts:
1. Mongos do not drink Carling Black Label
2. Mongos' favourite food is Spam and biscuits
3. Mongos do not look the same
4. The French hate mongos

Seriously, don't be disablist. See the person, not the mongo

Categories: John Craven's Newsround