Honey Badger Born at Dvůr Králové Zoo — the Only Successful Birth of Its Kind Worldwide This Past Year

A honey badger cub has been born at Dvůr Králové nad Labem Zoo — and according to the zoo, it marks the only successful case of the species breeding in captivity anywhere in the world over the past year.

Zoologists at the facility note that breeding honey badgers in captivity is exceedingly rare, and caring for the animals is notoriously difficult. "The honey badger is a stubborn and relentless creature that needs to be constantly occupied with new challenges and stimulation. Even so, it often finds a way to escape even the most secure enclosures," the zoo said.

In the wild, the honey badger is not currently at direct risk of extinction, though its numbers are dropping sharply in some regions. The species is found across Africa and in southwestern Asia, feeding mainly on small vertebrates, but also happily digging up plant tubers or raiding beehives for honey.

Thanks to their remarkable physical strength and powerful claws, honey badgers can dig their way into underground wild bee nests. Their fearlessness and ferociously strong jaws make them creatures even lions tend to avoid. And despite their stocky build, honey badgers are surprisingly skilled climbers, easily scaling trees.

Source: ekolist.cz