The Incredible Story of Gef, the Talking Mongoose

No, seriously, he could talk, that's what everyone said ...

Several times in the last few decades, certain animals have obtained a celebrity status that has earned them a cult following. Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Flipper the Dolphin, Lassie, Eddie (from Frasier), and both Mr. Cotton’s parrot and Captain Barbosa’s monkey, Jack, from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise are probably among the most famous of all, but there are undoubtedly numerous other examples people can cite.

Gef the talking mongoose holds a special place in this list, because he could actually speak English – not just imitate speech like a parrot, but carry on a real conversation, showing he knew what he was saying. Very similar to Mr. Ed, but in Gef’s case he wasn’t a fictional character, he was entirely real … at least that’s what the family he lived with, and many of their friends and neighbors, claimed.

Mike the Headless Chicken and Dalby Spook

On opposite sides of the Atlantic, two early stories about real extraordinary animals emerged a generation or two ago.

On an American farm, there was Mike the headless chicken. A wonder of the 1940s , this extraordinary chicken survived for 18 months with no head after having it cut off with an axe. That in itself is quite the testament to Mike’s willpower and determination, and obviously his will to live.

In the early 1930s however, the even more astonishing story of the Dalby Spook hit international headlines. This bizarre story has mostly fallen between the cracks of historical memory, much like reports of Rat-Kings, the Alpine Tatzelwurm, and the native American Thunderbird. It has been superseded by stories of ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot, and even dinosaur sightings – which is unfortunate, because even with in this pantheon of strangeness the story of Dalby Spook (aka, Gef) stands out.

Dalby Spook, or Gef … Whatever His Name, He Was Talking!

so what exactly was the Dalby Spook? Believe it or not, Dalby Spook was a name given to a mongoose who took up residence in the wall’s of a family’s home, and later shocked them speechless when he revealed his mastery of the art of speech. The animal eventually identified itself as Gef, sometime after being discovered by the Irving family in September 1931.

Mr. and Voirrey Irving at their house in Doarlish Cashen (Cashen's Gap) on the Isle of Man. (Harry Price and Richard Lambert/Public Domain).

At first, Gef made his presence known by random scratches, rustling, and general activity within the cavities of the Irving farmhouse at Cashen’s Gap, close to Dalby on the Isle of Man. When this activity became more pronounced and developed into coherent speech, the 1930s British tabloid press went into overdrive and turned Gef into something of a media sensation.

Imagine if Gef was discovered today: he would be all over the internet for days, weeks, or even months to come.

According to reports from reliable observers, none of whom engaged in hard drinking, Gef did much more than talk. He sang songs – a personal favorite being Carolina Moon - recited texts, and mimicked other animals and sounds brought to him or simply overheard. Gef enjoyed showing off his verbal skills for anyone who was ready to listen (unlike Mr. Ed, who would only talk to his pal Wilbur).

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