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Introduction

Although localised in their distribution, it does not appear that either of the stink badgers are rare or endangered. Some of the more recent reports of the occurrence of Mydaus javanensis indicate that it is common and widely distributed in at least some parts of Java and Borneo [p129, p154, p1426], and occurs in "scattered localities" in the lowland parts of its range in Malaysian Borneo [c11]. In 2002 however an Indonesian newspaper article stated that this stink badger's numbers were "decreasing all the time" and that "these days, they are rarely seen" [w648].

Mydaus marchei was described in 1976 as being "surprisingly common" wherever it was found [p1]. The IUCN formerly listed this species as "vulnerable" [w283-3], a designation which was queried by some authors [p534, p111-5]; however in 2008 its status was changed to "least concern" [w1524-1].

Few if any organisations or individuals carry out work to find out more about the stink badgers or to enhance their welfare or conservation. Given that neither of these species are endangered, and bearing in mind what these creatures do when disturbed, this is perhaps not surprising, though it is in my view regrettable.

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Hunting and persecution

The Indonesian stink badger

In the past, the anal gland secretion of Mydaus javanensis has been used as a basis for making perfumes, however I am not aware of any information indicating that this practice still goes on today. The species may however be hunted by local peoples for food (the scent glands are removed immediately after they are killed) and to obtain ingredients for traditional medicines (shavings of the stink badger's skin, mixed with water, are believed to be a cure for fever and rheumatism) [p1, p3-1, p36, p111-3].

Sadly, it has been reported that there have been cases of visitors to the Mt Gede Pangrango National Park beating Indonesian stink badgers to death, as these animals are rather bold and raid the food supplies of campers [w33].

The Indonesian stink badger has been protected by law in Indonesia since 1979 [w33, w58], with only limited hunting and collection under licence allowed [p129]. This species is also protected in Sabah, Malaysia, where it is listed as a protected animal (limited hunting and collection under licence) in Section 2 of Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 [p155].

The Palawan stink badger

A paper published in 1976 stated that Mydaus marchei was occasionally used as food by local people [p1], and in 2004 it was confirmed that hunting of this species by native people was rare [w1524-1]. This species is not protected by law [w1524-1].

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Habitat loss

I suspect that habitat loss in the form of deforestation is likely to have had some effect on the numbers of the Indonesian stink badger. However, as there do not apear to be any current or historical data on this species' population it is not possible to assess any such impact. National parks and reserves afford protection to some of the forested areas within this species' range (see Distribution and habitat preferences), however much of the stink badger's habitat remains unprotected and vulnerable to destruction.

The Palawan stink badger appears to have coped well with the changes which humans have made to its natural habitats, adapting to life in agricultural and even urban areas (see Distribution and habitat preferences). Whether the species occurs in the same numbers in these habitats, in comparison with forests and scrub, is not known.

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Lack of information

As with several of the other types of badger, the almost total absence of any information about these species may threaten their long term survival, at least in some parts of their ranges. No information on population sizes or trends, or on habitat requirements or breeding biology, is available for either of the stink badger species.

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Picture credits

The Palawan stink badger photo used at the head of this Article is © Peter Widmann, and used with his permission. 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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