The killer badgers of Basra

The creatures are said to eat human flesh and run faster than a deer.

"We have not released giant badgers in Basra, and nor have we been collecting eggs and releasing serpents into the Shatt al-Arab river," said British army spokesman Major David Gell.

The source of the rumour is thought to be a honey badger - not a badger at all, but a species of weasel with long clawed hands that help it dig into termite mounts.

This creature is known in the region, but it's by no means giant, reaching a maximum body weight of 14kg.

But it can be vicious. The ever reliable Wikipedia reports that it has been known to defend itself by attacking the scrotum of larger mammals. So the story may not be entirely b***ocks.

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