Part 8/17:
Despite its mythic reputation, the honey badger’s biology and ecology tell a different story. Native to Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia, it is an opportunistic omnivore and scavenger, adept at digging, hunting, and resisting venom thanks to thick, loose skin and strong jaws. But crucially, its diet is diverse, and snakes make up less than 25% of its intake in the wild. The honey badger is not a specialized snake killer but rather an adaptable generalist that scavenges or hunts a variety of prey depending on what's available.