Honey Badger hunting in South Africa

Honey Badgers also known as a Ratel in South Africa is a “no nonsense” omnivorous adaptable animal found in most habitats except mountains and forests. They eat mostly insects, amphibians, birds, reptiles, spiders and scorpions. Badgers have a liking for honey and bee larvae from which they derive their name. Honey Badgers have short sturdy legs and feet with strong claws which they use to dig holes or break open old rotten logs to find food. Honey Badgers are found in the bushveld and semi-arid regions of the country. They are hunted in the Northern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga Lowveld and Limpopo in the northern parts of the country. They are mostly hunted over bait at night in Limpopo province. Honey Badgers are nocturnal animals but have often been documented hunting during the day in tandem with a bird called a “Honeyguide”. The bird leads them to a beehive and then feeds off the scraps and larvae left behind by the Badger. Badgers fear nothing and with their thick hide are virtually invincible often fending off much larger predators, like Lions and Hyenas. Classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN. However a special prearranged permit is required to hunt a Honey Badger at night in addition to a Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) permit.