Rare honey badger spotted for first time in Uttarakhand
A honey badger, also known as Ratel, has been captured on camera for the first time in the Terai East Forest Division of Uttarakhand. This rare species is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, which offers it the highest level of protection.
The sighting has been documented in a study published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. Researchers note that there is limited information about the current population of honey badgers in Uttarakhand.
Previously, honey badgers have been spotted in locations such as the Chilika Lagoon and Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, Bannerghatta National Park and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, and the Eastern Ghats. Just last week, one was also sighted in Purulia, West Bengal.
The study highlights the challenges of conservation efforts for honey badgers, as their population status in India is poorly documented, and their behaviour and social structure remain largely unexplored. These animals are known for their solitary nature.
The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and the Sharda canal along the Indo-Nepal border form the eastern boundary of the Terai East Forest Division, offering potential habitats for the honey badger, according to the researchers. However, encroachment, overgrasing, and poaching pose significant threats to wildlife in the region.
“The camera trap study indicates that the honey badger is a rare sight in the Terai East sal forests. To ensure effective protection and management of this species, there is a need to gather more data and gain a deeper understanding of its ecology and population status within the forest habitats,” the study concluded.
