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| Picture taken from Google |
Dinner on Monday night was interrupted when a pair honey badgers (Mellivora capensis) came to drink just metres away at the bird pool. We were alerted to their presence by the reflection of light on their silver back and watched them for a while before they disappeared into the bush.
This black and white colouration is known as ‘aposematic colouration’ and acts as nature’s warning system to deter predators from eating unpalatable prey. Honey badgers produce a strong smelling secretion from their anal gland which is used as a defence mechanism and, coupled with their well-earned reputation for strength, must surely count as unpalatable!
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