The honey badger, mellivora capensis, does not belong to the same subfamily as “true” badgers and is placed in its own subfamily. They stand 1.1 to 1.2 feet (34 to 39 centimeters) tall at the shoulders and measure 2.9 to 3.2 feet (91 to 98 centimeters) in length, with males being both slightly taller and longer than females. Males are also heavier than females, weighing 20 to 31 pounds (9 to 14 kilograms) while females weigh 11 to 22 pounds (5 to 10 kilograms). A honey badger is mostly black to dark-brown in color, with a wide strip of grey and white hair (called a mantle) running from the crown of the head to the base of the tail.
The honey badger can be found throughout Africa, in western Asia as well as the Indian Peninsula. They will inhabit a wide variety of habitats such as harsh scrublands and savannahs as well as lush, tropical rainforests. They excavate burrows with their large, powerful claws to live in. It is a mostly solitary creature, but there have been sightings of small male groups and they may also gather in an area where there is an abundance of food. These animals do the majority of their activities during dusk and throughout the night, although it is not uncommon for them to move around during the day. Males have huge home ranges which overlap and include smaller home ranges which may contain as many as 13 females.
The diet of a honey badger consists of small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, scorpions, roots, berries, fruits, bulbs, bee larvae and (of course) honey. It has been reported that they are able to get to a bee hive’s contents by first using its anal glands to fumigate the bees, which causes them to either flee or become immobilized. At this point, the hive’s contents are free for them to consume. When confronted by a predator like a lion or a leopard (who may confuse them for a zorilla), they will fight back with their powerful claws and jaws. Their thick, rubbery skin also helps to protect them from the bites of their attackers.
There is no distinct breeding pattern for a honey badger. Males will mate with several females and will have no hand in raising their offspring (called kits). Females will give birth to a single kit inside of a burrow after a gestation period of 50 to 70 days. The kit is completely dependent on its mother and will follow her around for 12 to 16 months, at which point it will become independent and leave. It is unknown exactly how long they live in the wild, although one specimen in captivity lived to be 26 years old.
The honey badger is not currently considered to be endangered. They do, however, face several threats such as entrapment by poachers, livestock farmers, and (naturally) bee farmers. Their skin and claws are also used in traditional medicine and are believed to confer the fearlessness and ferocity of the creature. Hopefully, the honey badger can overcome its obstacles and avoid ever having to face the possibility of extinction. After all, such a unique creature deserves to live and prosper for many years.
Works Cited
“Fun Facts about Honey Badgers” 14 June 2011
“Honey Badger (Mellivora Capensis)” 14 June 2011
“Honey Badger (Mellivora Capensis)” 14 June 2011
