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Hunting

Hunting is likely to be a threat to the conservation of this species in several parts of its range, although finding hard evidence is far from easy. Shelagh Rosenthal reported in 1997 that hog badgers in Cuc Phuong Forest (62 miles southwest of Hanoi in Vietnam, a 61,000-acre preserve of one of the world's few remaining primeval tropical forests) were under heavy hunting pressure - along with the rest of the local mammal species [c006]. Presumably, the species is also hunted elsewhere in Vietnam. The likely impact on the species' population is unknown.

The hog badger is also hunted in Manipur in India, even in protected forests. The fat of the badger is used by local tribes as a medicine (as an ointment for burns, as a cure for leprosy and as an aphrodisiac) [b034]. Elsewhere in north-eastern India, it is reported that "poor conservation practices" have resulted in decimation of many rare and endangered species in Sikkim, including the hog badger [w162].

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Habitat loss

Loss of habitat, chiefly through deforestation, is also likely to have an impact on the hog badger in many parts of its range.

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Lack of information

Lack of information is another conservation issue concerning the hog badger. Very little is known about the biology or ecology of this species, or of its numbers. Hunting and habitat loss may well be pushing the hog badger towards extinction in some parts of its range, but we simply do not know.

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Picture credits

The hog badger photo used at the head of this page is © Advanced Thailand Geographic Magazine, and used with the kind permission of Thon Thamrongnawasawat, TalayThai.com Manager. Credits for the photos used in the right-hand margin of this page for site navigation can be found on the Credits page.

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