Everett's ferret badger, Kinabalu ferret badger
The Bornean ferret badger (Melogale everetti ) is a small, nocturnal mammal that is endemic to the island of Borneo. It is a member of the family Mustelidae and is one of five species of the genus Melogale.
The Bornean ferret badger is covered by fur that ranges in colour from grey-brown to dark black, with its underside covered by lighter-coloured fur. The most recognisable and defining characteristic of this species of ferret badger is the "ferret-like mask" pattern of colouration on its face, which is either white or yellow. This species is also distinguishable from other ferret badgers by a dorsal stripe that runs from the top of its head to the bottom of its shoulders, which ranges in colour from white to red.
The Bornean ferret badger is characteristic of ferret badgers, as it has short legs and broad feet. Its feet are equipped with strong digging claws, as well as with ridges that run along the pads of the feet and partial webbing between the toes that are believed to be climbing adaptations.
Bornean ferret badgers can be found only on the Island of Borneo. They have a very restricted distribution range on the island that is limited to the northern tip of the island of Borneo, specifically Kinabalu National Park, Crocker Range National Park, and the surrounding area. This includes the adjacent districts of Penampang, Tambunan, and Tuaran in Sabah. These animals live in evergreen and montane forests and can also occur in surrounding scrubland and slash-and-burn agriculture fields. They inhabit upland and highland areas.
Bornean ferret badgers are mainly ground-dwelling animals, however, they are also known to be formidable climbers and have been observed foraging in trees. They lead a solitary life and are active at night and at dusk spending most of their time at night foraging for food; when not foraging Bornean ferret badgers rest in their burrows. Despite their strong digging ability, they do not dig their own burrow but take existing burrows dug by other animals. Bornean ferret badgers are known to be fierce when they are provoked or cornered. They exhibit the warning colouration of their masked faces and dorsal stripe to scare potential predators. They may also emit a pungent odour from their scent glands, not too dissimilar to the behaviour of a skunk.
Bornean ferret badgers are omnivores that feed on invertebrates, amphibians, insects, earthworms, fruit, and carrion.
Bornean ferret badgers breed throughout the year. Females give birth to litters of between 1 and 5 offspring. The gestation period lasts between 57 and 80 days, with young normally being born in May and June. The offspring are weaned and cared for by their mother for between 2 and 3 months in a burrow until they are able to forage for themselves.
The main threats to the Bornean ferret badger are linked to the very small extent of occurrence of its population (4,200 km2) and its concentration in a single forest environment. This makes it vulnerable to large-scale, unpredictable events such as epidemics or natural disasters. A potential epidemic within the species is a serious threat to its population, as it is concentrated in one area with limited separation between population groups. Similarly, the island of Borneo experiences an extreme monsoon season and occasionally typhoons, which could potentially eliminate the ferret badger population. Other threats include climate change, habitat degradation, and roadkill.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Bornean freet badger total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
