First Record of Honey Badger, Mellivora capensis in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Iran

One of the most important conflict between human and wildlife is road accidents. Each year, a significant number of wildlife are killed by vehicle collisions. On 8 Aguste 2016, a carcass of a female Honey Badger or Ratel Mellivora capensis, was observed on the boundary of Gando protected area in Chabahar –Sarbaz road, 38 kilometers southwest of Negour. This is the first record of honey badger Mellivora capensis in Sistan and Baluchistan province. The cause of the animal’s death was being hit by a passing vehicle in this road. This was reported in southwest of Iran, 600 kilometers away from the easternmost spot it was seen before in central Iran. This species, for the first time was recorded in a Baluchi habitat with the distance of 1300 meters from Bahu Kalat River, which is a completely different habitat in compare to other reported habitat of this species.

Keywords:

honey badger , distribution range , Baluchi habitat , Bahu Kalat River