The honey badger holds the Guinness World Record for the most fearless animal on the planet. You might think they look like cute, skunk-like creatures, but they are actually nature's most aggressive fighters. They have few natural predators because most animals know they are simply too difficult to kill. They will attack anything that moves, from venomous snakes to full-grown leopards. Their intelligence is just as dangerous as their teeth. Let’s explore the life of the animal that just doesn't care.
Honey badgers
Their skin is so loose that they can twist around inside it. If a lion grabs a honey badger by the neck, the badger can turn 180 degrees to bite the lion’s nose.
Venomous snakes make up a large part of their diet. If a cobra bites them, they simply pass out for a few hours and wake up later to finish the meal.
They are intelligent enough to use tools to escape captivity. A famous badger named Stoffel used rocks, mud, and even rakes to climb over the walls of his enclosure.
Their jaws are powerful enough to crack open turtle shells. They eat the entire animal, including the hard shell and all the bones.
They have a secret weapon similar to a skunk. When threatened, they release a foul-smelling liquid from a pouch to drive enemies away.
Honey badgers are actually part of the weasel family. Despite their name, they are not closely related to the European badgers found in English gardens.
Their skin is tough enough to resist arrows and machetes. Traditional hunters found them extremely difficult to kill with spears because the skin is thick and rubbery.
They raid beehives specifically for the larvae. While they enjoy the honey, they are really after the protein-rich baby bees hiding inside the comb.
Lions and hyenas usually avoid fighting them. These large predators know that a honey badger will fight to the death and cause serious injuries.
Their claws act like powerful shovels. They can dig a hole deep enough to hide in within just a few minutes if they need to escape.
A male honey badger patrols huge distances. He might travel up to 20 miles in a single night just to find food or a mate.
They are solitary creatures by nature. Unlike other badger species that live in clans, honey badgers prefer to live and hunt alone.+1
They are known to steal food from other predators. They will fearlessly chase cheetahs or leopards off a fresh kill to steal the meat for themselves.
They have tiny ears hidden under their fur. This design prevents enemies from grabbing or biting off their ears during a fight.
They make a rattling sound when they are angry. This deep, purring noise warns other animals to back off before the badger attacks.
