Back in the day, I recall someone getting excited about “tool using animals” when a monkey was using a stick to pull ants out of a hive for dinner. (His, not theirs)
Granted, that’s pretty good, but there are plenty of examples of animals (other than humans) using tools.
Personally, I am partial to Swedish Badgers over honey badgers, because I love their fur patterning and they’re not quite as hostile-looking as North American Badgers. But, as you probably already know, nasty-ass honey badgers don’t give a shit.*
Let me introduce you to Stoffle, a honey badger who says, “give me liberty, or I’ll take it!”
I don’t think his escapes are probably going to help him much; he’d be wiser to attempt to enjoy his captivity. But perhaps Stoffle enjoys the challenge.
* If you are not familiar with the nasty-ass honey badger meme, I suppose you should watch this: [youtube]
I admit, honey badgers are seriously badass, even for badgers. And that’s saying something.
timgueguen says
Ha! PZ spends all that time studying spiders, when it’s badgers who will probably take over the world.
ahcuah says
While the “nasty-ass honey badger” youtube in your footnote has a National Geographic logo on it, somehow I don’t think that’s the original narration: “It really doesn’t give a shit. Ew, what’s that?”
Marcus Ranum says
@ahcuah: the “nasty ass honey badger” narration is a meme; some people consider it funny.
kestrel says
Stoffle says, “don’t fence me in!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoYFvbR0XY
Crip Dyke, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden says
Stoffle is my hero.
ahcuah says
marcus @3. Oh, I got/get that it was a meme. I just found it amusing to be watching National Geographic footage with that kind of commentary replacing the usual staid narration.
ahcuah says
As did everybody else. That’s why it was a meme.
ahcuah says
As I keep burbling on, yes, I get it now. I originally thought that the phrase was the meme, and the video a good illustration of it. I hadn’t realized that the video is what had started the meme. The guy who did it even followed up on the fame from it with a book.
Marcus Ranum says
Crip Dyke, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden@#5:
Stoffle is my hero.
I agree. When I first saw that video I was in love.
chigau (違う) says
It wasn’t a “monkey” it was David Greybeard at Gombe Stream.
WMDKitty -- Survivor says
Loyal, hardworking, persistent… Hufflepuff is represented by a badger for a reason.