This is the moment one of the bravest animals in Africa showed why it has so much respect - as it battled a whole pride of lions.

The plucky honey badger was caught out in the open in the Kwando Concession Park, Botswana, and unluckily became the target for a group of lions.

Stranded and weighing just 20lbs the badger decided to fight back against at least four young lions each 15 times its size.

The honey badger's tough hide and surprising strength and ferocity made it a tricky customer for the lions who struggled to deliver the killer bite.


Incredibly the pint-sized battler managed to resist the massive predators' attack for more than 30 minutes.

Wildlife photographer James Haskins watched as the badger kept the lions at bay and eventually had to leave the scene still seeing the badger fighting back.

He said: 'A scene like this is extremely rare to witness, the lions - all young lions by the way - tried their best to kill the young honey badger.


'It was probably their first time to try out their hunting skills on this animal and try as they might, they could not deliver a killer blow.

'The honey badgers skin is so though that the ions could not suffocate it or pull it apart - something lions certainly don't struggle with other less tenacious victims.

'Half an hour passed with the lions biting, chewing, clawing at the badger - but still the young honey badger just kept growling and fighting.


'We left the scene with the lions still passing around the badger between them - none of them knowing what to do to kill the animal.'

Honey badgers are found all over Africa and India and are known for their intelligence and ferocious attitude even when confronted by animals much bigger than them - with documented fights with lions, hyenas and even rhinos.

It is a mustelid and bears some similar characteristics to both a badger and the much smaller weasel.

In popular culture throughout Africa, the animal - also known as a Ratel - is known for its fighting nature and the South African military have a vehicle named after it

One famous South African honey badger named Stoffel was made famous in the BBC2 documentary Honey Badgers: Masters of Mayhem aired on Good Friday this year.

Stoffel repeatedly outfoxed his keepers escaping from his enclosure and even breaking into his owner's house to raid the fridge.

Source : dailymail

They are known for being aggressive predators, willing to attack and kill humans.

But as this picture shows, brown bears are also ever so slightly vain.

This young bear was caught out gazing at its own reflection in a Finnish lake

These pictures show the brown bear repeatedly stooping to stare at himself, unaware that photographer Sylwia Domaradska is hiding just yards away.


She captured the pictures in Kainuu, eastern Finland, where there is almost 24-hour daylight during the summer months.

The 37-year-old from London said: 'It totally felt like a dream. It was almost difficult to see where the reflections were starting.

'The bear turned up at around midnight. He came very quietly along the water's edge looking for food.


'It was a fairly young bear, perhaps two or three years old. He was very cautious as at this age he'd need to be careful about females with cubs, and older males.

'He seemed to look at his own reflection - as he stayed in the same place for a while.'

Miss Domaradska said when the bear began moving around the edge of the lake he continued looking in.


'It really was quite amusing to see - and then he was gone,' she said.

'The conditions were absolutely perfect for this kind of image.

'The reflections were perfectly still and the line between the reflections and actual trees being reflected created very little blur.

'I had actually gone out with the intention of taking a different image. I was hoping to see bears bathing and splashing in the water but instead, this happened.

'But it didn't turn out too bad, did it?'






Source : dailymail

Police in Bangkok have arrested a pet shop owner after finding a menagerie of illegally imported animals during a swoop on a warehouse outside the city.

Thai officers found 14 albino lions from Africa and hundreds of other protected animals including birds, meerkats, tortoises, peafowls, capuchin monkeys and other species from overseas and Thailand, a police spokesman said.

Colonel Ek Ekasart said Montri Boonprom-on, 41, faced charges of possessing wildlife and carcasses, and he could face up to four years in jail and a fine of 40,000 baht (£830 or $1,300).


Ek said Montri owned an exotic pet shop at Bangkok's renowned Chatuchak weekend market and had been convicted of wildlife trading before.

Montri told reporters the lions were shipped legally and were waiting to be transferred to a zoo in Thailand's northeast.

He did not explain the discrepancy between his documents showing that he had imported 16 lions, and the fact that police had only found 14 of them at his warehouse in a residential area of Bangkok's Klong Sam Wa district.


Thailand is a hub of the international black market in protected animals. While the country is signed up to a convention regulating international trade in endangered species, Thai law does not extend protection to many alien species.

Other species seized included baboons, tortoises, sugar gliders and peacocks.  Police also found a hornbill and a leopard, both protected by Thai law, which were packed in a box and were scheduled to be delivered to clients on Monday.

The police spokesman said: 'We have been monitoring the location for a few days after the neighbors complained about the noise from the animals, and if you looked through the gate, you could spot lions in the cage.'

The animals were confiscated and are being looked after by the Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.











Source : dailymail

 These pictures of West Highland White Terriers have been designed to cheer anyone up - whatever the weather.

The wacky pictures are a new feature of the iPhone app Weather Puppy, which comes free but allows users to buy different themes.

But canine-lovers worried about the welfare of these adventurous Westies need not panic, the images have been created using sophisticated digital techniques.

British publishers Maverick Arts are behind the pictures and used image-manipulation skills to make it seem as if the dogs are indulging in adrenaline sports.  Maverick managing director Steve Bicknell said: 'We are obsessed with the weather here in the UK and I think our pictures of the Westies should cheer people up whether they are at a sunny beach or hiding from the rain.'


















Source : dailymail

Cheetah with her cub
These mamas are wild! No matter what the species, nothing can break the bond between a mother and her baby. In honor of Mother's Day, take a look at the cutest moms in the Animal Kingdom ... Can you say aww? This proud cheetah mother and her 8-week-old cub are so adorable they have us seeing spots.

 Elephant and her baby
Instead of holding hands, this mother elephant makes sure her baby stays nice and close by linking up trunks. Admit it. Your heart is melting.

Koala bear with her baby
Mother knows best! A young koala hitches a ride from its marsupial mama at a zoo in Duisburg, Germany.

Beluga whale and her baby
This beluga whale family is making a splash with all the adorableness they are dishing out.

Alligator with her baby
Aw, snap! We're not sure how this teeny tiny alligator climbed atop mom's head, but he sure does look excited to be there.

Tortoise with her baby
This mom has babies on the brain! A four-day-old African spurred tortoise uses its mother as a headrest.

Siberian tiger and her baby
There's nothing ferocious about this adorable Siberian tiger cub nuzzling its mother -- just a whole lot of cuteness.

Rhinoceros with her cub
A rhinoceros cub gets a nudge from its mother Betty while playing in the mud. He certainly has a lot of growing up to do!

Lioness with her cubs
It must be bath time! A mother lioness gives her new-born cub a playful lick, but these kiddos don't look too excited about it.

Polar bear with her cubs
These tiny cubs sure do bear an uncanny resemblance to mom. Mother Cora hangs out with her twins at the zoo in Brno, Czech Republic.

Ape with her baby
This little guy isn't too young to monkey around with mom. Have you ever seen a more playful pair?

Source : nydailynews