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.
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Binturong
Arctictis binturong
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Animal ClassMammal, Viverridae -
HabitatBinturong live in the canopy of tall, dense tropical primary and secondary forests. -
DietBintourong are in the order Carnivora but will mainly eat Fruit! They will also hunt small animals such as rodents, birds, fish and bugs. -
Conservation StatusVulnerable – Habitat loss, trapping for pet trade, meat and traditional medicine market. -
PopulationDecreasing
Bintourong are one of two carnivores that has a prehensile tail.
Bintourong are one of two carnivores that has a prehensile tail.
Bintourong are one of two carnivores that has a prehensile tail.
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Introduction
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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.
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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.
