Honey badgers face significant persecution across their range in Africa and South Asia, particularly from beekeepers whose hives are raided, with welfare harms from trapping, poisoning, and shooting.
Honey badgers caught in traps experience prolonged confinement before the trapper's return, often suffering dehydration and stress injuries from escape attempts. Poisoned bait intended for badgers causes prolonged, painful death from organophosphate or strychnine toxicity. Cubs whose mothers are killed starve or are killed directly. Honey badger rehabilitation is challenging due to their strength, escape capability, and resistance to handling. Coexistence approaches including elevated hive stands and electric fence protection eliminate most conflict without requiring lethal control.