TIL Malaysia Doesn't Have Wild Skunks. So, What Did Bomba Just Rescue?
Same same but different.
Cover image via When a recent video of Bomba officers struggling to rescue a very smelly animal went viral, many were surprised by what they saw
It wasn't a snake, a civet, or even a distressed cat. It was… a skunk. Yes, like the Pepé Le Pew kind.
The incident had some Malaysians wondering, "Wait, Malaysia got skunks meh?"
Image via @pedangair (TikTok)
While Malaysia doesn't have actual skunks, we do have a wild cousin with similar vibes
Let's get this straight — true skunks (like the iconic black-and-white striped ones from North America) are not native to Malaysia.
They belong to the Mephitidae family, and are famous for their ability to spray a noxious chemical from their backside when threatened.
But! There's an animal in our region that's closely related — and just as stinky.
Image via Pinterest
It's called the Sunda stink badger (Mydaus javanensis), and it's native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, and parts of the Natuna Islands
This elusive creature is often dubbed the "Malay stink badger" or even the "Sunda skunk", thanks to its eerily similar defence mechanism: a powerful, foul-smelling spray used to ward off predators.
Image via Wildly Animals
While it's unclear if the animal in the viral video was someone's exotic pet or a wild animal, there's a good chance it was actually a local species, just one that most Malaysians don't recognise, like the Sunda stink badger.
Sunda stink badgers are nocturnal and extremely shy, so sightings are rare. They're mostly active at night and tend to avoid human settlements.
Image via Mongabay
Much like their American cousins, Sunda stink badgers can emit an intensely foul-smelling secretion when threatened
It's not just unpleasant — it can cling to fur, fabric, and noses for days. Which explains why the Bomba officers in the viral clip looked like they were about to faint mid-rescue.
Watch the video here:
These creatures are protected, and we shouldn't disturb them
If you ever encounter one, don't panic, and definitely don't try to handle it. It won't attack unless provoked, but if it feels threatened, you'll probably regret getting too close.
If it's in a dangerous or urban location, call the fire department or PERHILITAN, as they are trained to relocate animals safely (even if they sometimes get a faceful of stink in the process).
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Image via SAYS
