RATEL OR HONEY BADGER

                     STATUS

IUCN                  :  LRIC 

CAMP                 :  LRnt 

ZSI                      :   IK

CITES                 :  Appendices

Schedule           :  I (Part I) 

Population       :  Not known but declining

Activity              :  Nocturnal 

Social Group    :   Paps

👉Local name    :   Ghor khodiu, Venzu, Butadu, 

👉Physical measurements:👇

Body length          :  60 - 75 cm

Tail                          :  15 cm

Height                    :   25 - 30 cm

Weight                   :   10 - 12 kg

Gestation              :   6 months

Litter size             :   2

Life span              :  15 - 20 years

👉Description  :  White and blackish (i.e., pied) colour pattern. It is whitish above and has black on under parts. It has short legs and small tail. 

👉Food  :  Omnivorous. It feeds on small mammals, reptiles including python, carrion, corpses, insects, fruits, honey etc. 

👉Distribution   :   All over state excepting the 'Rann' areas. 

👉Habitat  :  Scrub forest, dry and moist deciduous forests, wastelands with some vegetation, ravines. 

👉Behaviour  :  Nocturnal animal. It is bold and fearless. Prefers hilly broken country where it digs burrows for shelter. It can run fast. 

👉Signs of presence   :   Pugmarks, burrows and dug out vegetation can give clues about its presence.

👉Ratel is a courageous and fearless animal. It does not hesitate attacking human beings if the need arises. It inhabits varied habitats, but avoids very wet areas. It can pretend as a dead animal if it comes across a dangerous animal and if it can not find a way to escape. The belief that it steals human dead bodies by digging out the graveyard has no scientific background. This animal is fond of honey and is known to follow a bird known as honey guide to reach a honey comb. However, this bird species does not occur in Gujarat.