Also referred to as the ratel, the honey badger is legendary for its seemingly fearless and aggressive angle to different animals, even bigger predators resembling lions and leopards – however does the honey badger dwell as much as this infamy, and in that case, simply why is it so aggressive?
What’s a honey badger?
The honey badger is a medium-sized mammal within the mustelid household, the identical teams that badgers, weasels and otters belong to.
How huge are honey badgers?
It’s the largest terrestrial mustelid present in Africa, measuring between 55-77cm in physique size (with an extra 12-30cm lengthy tail) and 23-28cm in shoulder top. Females are smaller than males, however the common weight can differ throughout its vary.
It has 4cm-long claws and enamel which might be in a position to crack a tortoise shell.
The honey badger was as soon as regarded as a sort of badger species and so was grouped by scientists within the Melinae subfamily with species such because the European badger. Nonetheless, it’s since been discovered to be extra intently associated to the martens, and is now positioned inside its personal subfamily, Mellivorinae.
Why are honey badgers so aggressive?
Regardless of their status because the world’s most fearless animals, honey badgers attempt to keep away from hassle. I’ve seen them bolt for a gap after sniffing recent lion or leopard tracks.
Honey badgers normally solely assault when stunned by predators, which frequently occurs when they’re digging – with poor eyesight and their noses within the floor, they are often oblivious to their environment.
When startled they rush at their assailants, releasing a potent scent from their anal glands, rattling and standing tall with their hackles raised. This normally scares the predator away. Even when a badger is caught, its unfastened pores and skin permits it to twist spherical and chunk its attacker.
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How NOT to Hold Away from a Honey Badger’s Tooth | Lethal 60 | Earth Unplugged
Although honey badgers are named for his or her behavior of raiding beehives, they primarily hunt rodents, reptiles and bug larvae, together with the occasional antelope calf, cheetah cub and eagle chick.
Lots of their prey species are venomous, together with the puff adder and Cape cobra, and the badgers are thought to develop some immunity to venom over a lifetime of bites and stings.
I encountered one person that was bitten on the face by a puff adder. Regardless of a big swelling on his cheek, he was up and chasing snakes once more simply 5 hours later.
The place are honey badgers discovered?
The honey badger is a widespread mammal and is present in sub-Saharan Africa, southwest Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They’re relative ample inside their vary, however do come into battle with people, notably farmers and beekeepers.
What do honey badgers eat?
The honey badger doesn’t have a very specialised food plan. It’s an omnivore, feeding on a variety of meals together with raiding beehives for each bee larvae and honey, in addition to feeding on rodents, amphibians, birds, eggs, berries, roots and bulbs. It can even kill and eat black mambas, a extremely venomous snake. The species will even steal meals from different carnivores, or scavenge from kills.
Though it’s believed that the honeyguide fowl guides honey badgers, this has not been confirmed.
Honey badgers can change into pests to poultry farmers, in a position to acquire entry to even strongly constructed hen homes and enterprise surplus killing as soon as inside.
There have been reviews in India that the species dig ups human corpses.
Does something eat honey badgers?
Honey badgers, notably younger ones, will be predated by bigger predators resembling lions, leopards and hyenas.
Are honey badgers intelligent?
It’s thought that honey badgers are comparatively intelligent. Within the video under, a clip from the BBC’s Weasels: Feisty and Fearless programme, a few captive honey badgers are put by means of their paces to find out if they can work out puzzles to be able to entry meals.
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Are Honey Badgers Large-Brained? | Weasels: Feisty & Fearless | BBC Earth
What’s the scientific identify of the honey badger?
The scientific identify of the honey badger is Mellivora capensis.
How lengthy do honey badgers dwell for?
The lifespan for wild honey badgers is unknown, however in captivity, people have lived for twenty-four years.
Are honey badgers endangered?
As a consequence of is vast distribution vary and vary in habitats, the honey badger is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Purple Checklist. It was final assessed in 2015.
This article by Megan Shersby was first printed by Uncover Wildlife on 28 October 2025. Lead Picture: Honey badger in South Africa. © Bridgena Barnard/Getty.
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