Honey Badger

Honey Badger Latest News

The Dewas forest department recently confirmed the presence of the elusive honey badger (Ratel) within the Kheoni wildlife sanctuary.

About Honey Badger

• The honey badger, or ratel, is a small mammal that is very strong and tough. 
• It is a member of the weasel family, which includes skunks. 
• Scientific Name: Mellivora capensis.

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Honey Badger Habitat and Distribution

• The honey badger has a wide, extensive historical distribution range, which extends through most of sub-Saharan Africa. 
• It occurs from the Western Cape to southern Morocco and southwestern Algeria. 
• In addition, it also occurs in Arabia, Iran, and western Asia, as well as the Indian peninsula. 
• They live mainly in dry areas but are also found in forests and grasslands.
• They live in holes, which they dig with their strong front legs.

Honey Badger Features

• Adult honey badgers have a shoulder height of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters). 
• Their bodies are between 24 and 30 inches (61 and 76 centimeters) long, with tails of about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters). 
• The males are much larger than the females. 
• Their skin is thick, tough and loose, allowing the honey badger to twist and escape from the grip of their attacker.
• Their ears are poorly developed.
• Their upper parts are white, and the lower parts are black.
• They are nocturnal. 
• Honey badgers have powerful 1.5-inch-long (4 cm) claws and teeth that are strong enough to crack a tortoise shell, making these small mammals a formidable opponent. 
• Honey badgers have glands that give off a bad smell. They use this smell to defend themselves against larger animals.
• Honey badgers are omnivores, feasting on a wide range of food, including birds, reptiles, rodents, berries, roots, and fruits. 
• They are ferocious hunters, known to take on powerful animals that’s more than many times their size.

Honey Badger Conservation Status 

It is classified as ‘Least Concern‘ under the IUCN Red List.

Key Facts about Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh. 
• It is spread over an area of 132 sq.km.
• It is connected to Ratapani Tiger Reserve through corridors. 
• Flora: The dry deciduous forest consists of teak, tendu, and bamboo.
• Fauna: Its wildlife includes jackals, palm civets, Leopards, Sloth bears, Hyenas, Nilgai, and many bird species.

Source: TOI