Honey badgers face persecution from farmers, the bushmeat trade, and habitat loss despite their ecological role, with welfare concerns centring on trapping, snaring, and retaliatory killing.
Honey badgers caught in steel-jaw traps or snares suffer acute and often prolonged pain — their tough hide does not protect their paws or limbs from trap injuries. Poison baiting causes internal suffering before death. Retaliatory killing is widespread but often disproportionate, targeting honey badgers for beehive raids that could be prevented through simple protective measures. In captivity, honey badgers require extensive space, enrichment, and mental stimulation — their intelligence makes barren enclosures particularly problematic. Welfare-conscious conflict mitigation focuses on beehive protection measures (hanging hives, electric fencing) that reduce predation without harming honey badgers.