Some 18 months ago we had considered ourselves very fortunate in getting an excellent profile picture of a Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris) as well as some rare video of scenting behavior. Yet for months and months our locations have been seemingly void of this characterful species. A species that just seems to exude personality. If ever there has been animal that makes me want to anthropomorphize it, the hog badger seems to be it. It has some weird bushy cuteness going on, with a spirit for both bumbling and adventure combined. The forest cats may be sleek, intelligent and somewhat aloof but this little charismatic species just has some shuffling Bilbo Baggins quality about it that has serious cuteness appeal.

And now, in the last few months, we have suddenly seen a number of these hobbitesque animals in various shades of end of rainy season condition, some in very poor condition and lacking full fur and some, like in this photograph, in their prime. A male at the height of condition. He just exudes character don’t you think?