HOEDSRPUIT – An inhabitant of a local rehabilitation centre has his caretakers at their wits’ end. Don’t let his unassuming name fool you. Stoffel the honey badger has a skill that will astound you.
Stoffel arrived at Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre 18 years ago when his menacing ways became too much for the farmer’s household in which he had been raised.
His initial freedom at the centre also had to be curbed due to this unruliness. Among his offences count chasing lodge staff from the kitchen, rummaging in visitors’ handbags and brawling with the resident lion. The latter landed him in the animal clinic for two months after being severely mauled.
For his own safety, Stoffel was confined to a camp sponsored by the local Rotary Club. But locks and fences proved child’s play for this Houdini, who was quick to open the gate and let his female partner out, to boot.
There followed a brick enclosure with high walls. The feisty mammal was not perturbed. His prison-break attempts included moving and stacking rocks and mud against the enclosure walls in order to scale them. He also quickly figured out how to manoeuvre sticks and all kinds of garden implements to secure his freedom.
Despite his “problem behaviour” Stoffel is much loved by Moholoholo staff and visitors alike and centre founder Brian Jones continues to be impressed by the fellow’s intelligence and perseverance.
Some honey badger facts
- In 2002, the Guinness Book of World Records recognised this unique mammal as one of the most fearless animals in the world.
- A group of badgers is called a company, cete, colony or a set. A female is a sow, a male a boar and a young animal a kit.
- They are very aggressive and have on occasion been known to fight off lion and leopard.
