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The meanest animal in the world?

The honey badger has quite a reputation as a fearless (and fearsome!) animal, and it is often said that it has no enemies apart from other honey badgers, and humans. The species is certainly very well equipped to fight back against almost anything that attacks it. Like the true badgers, Mellivora has powerful jaws, and can produce offensive secretions from its anal glands. As a further defence, it also has an extremely loose, tough, rubbery skin, which is resistant to bites from other animals. It is said that the honey badger can twist around in its skin, so that it can bite an attacker even when it is being held by the back of the neck.

The honey badger also has a reputation for killing animals by attacking the scrotum; the victim then bleeds to death. It is alleged that the ratel has, through its attacks, castrated various mammal species, including humans. This behaviour has been reported by several African tribes. However, fully documented first-hand reports are difficult to come by. This may be one of several aspects of the honey badger's behaviour which has been exaggerated.

Various reports state that honey badgers have attacked animals as large as sheep, horses, buffaloes, wildebeest and waterbuck. On one occasion an observer saw seven lions abandon the wildebeest kill that they were eating, when three honey badgers approached. The badgers then took their share of the carcase.

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Predators

Despite its reputation as the 'meanest animal in the world', the honey badger is not invincible. During their studies in the Kalahari, Colleen and Keith Begg observed an encounter between a honey badger and a lion. The badger growled or "rattled", released its scent, and backed away, facing the lion, until it reached a safe distance. The same sequence of events was observed when a honey badger came across a leopard. In both cases, caution was sensible - both lions and leopards are known to have attacked and killed honey badgers. It is likely that for the most part, honey badgers and big cats have a healthy respect for each other and keep their distance.

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References

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Picture credits

The honey badger photo used at the head of this Article is © Tim Davis / Photo Researchers, Inc. Used with the permission of the Northern Ohio Ferret Association. 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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