The Sunda stink badger (Mydaus javanensis), also called the Javan stink badger, teledu, Malay stink badger, Malay badger, Indonesian stink badger and Sunda skunk, is a mammal native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Despite the common name, stink badgers are not closely related to true badgers, and are, instead, Old World relatives of the skunks. Fur of Sunda stink badgers is coarse, and black or very dark brown over most of the body, with a white stripe running from the top of the head to the tail. The tail is short, measuring about 3.6 cm (1.4 in), and is covered in pure white fur. The width of the stripe varies considerably between individuals, but is usually narrow, and may be discontinuous. As the name indicates, stink badgers have a scent gland under the tail that secretes a foul-smelling substance; the badger can spray up to 15 cm (5.9 in). Sunda stink badgers are highly nocturnal and live in pairs. At night, they root through soft soil using their snout and claws searching for worms and various ground-dwelling insects. During the day, they sleep in short burrows, less than 60 cm (24 in) in length. These burrown they either dig themselves or take over from other animals, such as porcupines.
Hailing from Indonesia and Malaysia, the Sunda stink badger (aka Indonesian stink badger, Javan stink badger, Malay stink badger, Malay badger, Sunda skunk, and Teledu) is rather a relative of the skunk; not the badger. These critters don’t face any ongoing threats and the fact is, habitat destruction and deforestation of old growth forests might actually be benefiting them. These creatures are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable and smelly population.
