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Description
It is the smallest of the badger family,
only reaching a weight of 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) to 7
lbs. (3.1 kg). Their bodies reach a length of 13 inches
(33 cm) to 17 inches (43 cm). They are also called tree
badgers, or pahmi. Aside from the Burmese and
Chinese ferret badger there is Everett's ferret badger Melogale
everetti, which is only found on Mount Kinabalu at the
northern tip of the island of Borneo.
Reproduction
Cubs can be born year round, but the
average season is in late spring, usually in
May or June until late fall, around September and October.. The average litter size is two to three
babies. Ferret badgers are born in burrows and fed by
the mother for two to three months.
Habits
Like other members of the badger family,
the Ferret badgers is an omnivore, its diet consists of small
rodents, insects and occasionally fruit. It is almost
completely nocturnal. Most other badgers burrow their
own homes, but the ferret badger is known to inhabit burrows
made by other animals. They have also been seen sleeping
the tree branches. The Burmese ferret badger is more of
a social creature than it's Chinese counterpart. They
are encouraged by the Burmese to enter their homes to get rid
of insects and rodents.
General
The honey
badger's anal glands secrete a vile-smelling liquid to deter
its enemies, whereas ferret badgers, the teledu and the
Palawan stink badger will squirt the contents of their anal
glands into the face of an attacker. The ferret
badger is one of only 13 species in the China - Anhui Province,
that is under state protection
and was put on the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Animals in 1996.
There are only 8 of these animals listed in zoo’s around the
world. The life span is recorded at over 10 years.
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