Kolkata: A honey badger, rarely sighted in India, has been spotted in the forests of Jhargram, a senior official said on Monday. The animal was photographed by a trap camera installed by the forest department during a recent survey.Earlier, a honey badger was captured on camera in Purulia.Chief conservator of forest S Kulandaivel said the species was recorded twice during the latest camera-trap exercise in Jhargram. The most recent sighting came from the forests of Belpahari, part of the Junglemahal belt in south Bengal.Kulandaivel said the sighting indicates a steady rise in faunal diversity in the region. Forest minister Birbaha Hansda welcomed the development, saying biodiversity in Jhargram’s forests remains robust.The honey badger is a small to medium-sized mammal known for its sturdy build, powerful legs and sharp claws. It typically has blackish fur with a lighter grey or whitish patch along its back and inhabits forests, grasslands, hilly terrain and scrubland.
