Two Binturong laying across a tree branch

Binturong

Arctictis binturong
Conservation Status IUCN
Vulnerable

For more info on classifications visit
www.iucnredlist.org

endangered list labels vulnerable
endangered list vulnerable sign
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    Animal Class
    Mammal, Viverridae
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    Habitat
    Binturong live in the canopy of tall, dense tropical primary and secondary forests.
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    Diet
    Bintourong are in the order Carnivora but will mainly eat Fruit! They will also hunt small animals such as rodents, birds, fish and bugs.
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    Conservation Status
    Vulnerable – Habitat loss, trapping for pet trade, meat and traditional medicine market.
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    Population
    Decreasing
  • Introduction

    Binturong are sometimes called a bearcat, but don’t let that name fool you; they are not related to bears or cats. In fact, the binturong is more closely related to civets and genets and are in the same family known as Viverridae. They have coarse, shaggy fur, mainly black with a speckling of grey, particularly around their faces.

    They are mainly nocturnal but can be active during the day or night. Binturong are arboreal animals, meaning that they spend most of their time in trees. They are one of only two carnivores that has a prehensile tail, meaning their tail can grasp tree branches to give them extra support, while climbing and sleeping.

    Size: Binturong are large animals that can weigh over 20Kg, with a body length of 60-90cm, their long tail is similar in length to their bodies. Females are larger than males and are the dominant sex in the species.

  • Threats/ Conservation

    Vulnerable:

    The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have listed Binturong as vulnerable.

    Binturong were once considered common in their native range but are now facing localised extinctions, across several nations. They have suffered over 30% population loss in the past 30 years. Threats to the wild binturong population include pet trade, habitat loss and hunting for meat and traditional (belief-based) medicine practice.


    Emerald Park conservation contribution:

    Wildlife Vets International

    In the past, Emerald Park, has donated to Wildlife Vets international (WVI) who aid conservationist and local vets, around the world, to save endangered species. WVI have been involved in developing ways to mitigate the risk of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) to animals in the wild.

  • Habitat

    Binturong are arboreal live in trees living in the canopy of tall, dense tropical forests. They range Southeast Asia, from North-eastern India, Bangladesh, Yunnan and Guangxi in China, to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

  • Fun Facts

    Bintourong play a key role in the ecosystem, that they inhabit. By eating fruits, they carry out seed dispersal and therefore contribute to the healthy growth of plants in the rain forest.

    Bintourongs musk gives off a smell that is very similar to fresh buttered popcorn.