Binturong

Like many species native to southeast Asia, binturong populations are threatened by habitat loss for agricultural conversion, specifically for palm oil plantations. Some populations are also hunted for meat and the pet trade.

Conservation Messaging Opportunities

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Physical features

Binturongs are also known as Asian bearcats for their resemblance to both animals. Their face looks like a cat’s while their body looks like a bear’s. However, they are not closely related to either animal. Their closest relatives are civets (similarly sized, long-bodied carnivores native to Asia, Africa and Europe).
Binturongs weigh between 30-50 lbs. (13-22 kgs.). Their prehensile tail makes up about half of their total body length which ranges from 43-69 inches (110-174 cm).
The base of their tail is thick and muscular while the tip features a leathery patch that helps them grip trees. Only the last 1/3 of the tail is prehensile.
Females are about 20% larger and heavier than males and are the dominant sex.
Their shaggy hair varies in color from brown to black and features white or silver tips. Their catlike face features long whiskers, amber eyes, and long tufts of ear hair.

Range and Habitat

Range – widespread in southern and southeast Asia (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, parts of China, India, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia)
Habitat – tropical and subtropical primary and secondary forest; may vary based on geographic region
- - Binturongs play two important roles in their ecosystem. When they catch and eat rodents, they help with pest control. When they consume fruit, they help disperse seeds in their fecal deposits.

Diet: Omnivore

Wild – Fruit, vegetables, birds, small mammals, fish. They may opportunistically eat carrion, small invertebrates, eggs, leaves and plant shoots.
Zoo – Mice, omnivore biscuits, eggs, fruit, vegetables
Although classified in the order Carnivora, binturongs are omnivores that primarily eat fruit.

Lifespan

Wild – Up to 18 years; median life expectancy unknown
Zoo – Median life expectancy in AZA facilities is about 15 years for females and 18 years for males.

Reproduction

Females reach sexual maturity at about 30 months of age while males reach sexual maturity a few months earlier at about 27 months.
Mating may occur any time of year, but most births occur between February and April. Females initiate copulation and have been observed using their tails during mating to grab the male’s torso or tail base.
Gestation lasts approximately 82 to 92 days, though delayed implantation does occur. Typical litter size is 1 or 2 but can be up to 6. Young are weaned between 6 to 8 weeks old.
Males will sometimes stay with the female after mating, but most parental care is provided by females. Adults typically live solitarily, but small family groups of a female and her young have been observed. When a male is present in the group, he is subordinate to the female.

Conservation: Vulnerable

What’s the issue?

Unsustainable palm oil production practices cause habitat loss which threatens many species native to southeastern Asia, including the binturong.

How Does This Affect Humans?

Unsustainable palm oil production practices harm human populations through unfair labor practices and depletion of natural resources.

What is Zoo Atlanta Doing to Help?

Zoo Atlanta is a member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil and participates in Species Survival Plans for several impacted species, including the binturong.

What Can You Do To Help?

Download the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Sustainable Palm Oil app for your mobile device and use it to find products made by companies committed to transitioning to more sustainable palm oil.

Interpretive Information

Nine subspecies have been proposed, distinguished primarily by their geographic range.
Populations in the northern portion of their range are in decline primarily due to hunting for their meat, skin, fur, and the pet industry. Their meat is considered a delicacy in some countries within their range.
These arboreal mammals are not particularly agile and typically have to descend to the ground to move from one tree to another. Ankles that can rotate 180 degrees help binturongs descend from trees head-first.
Binturongs are one of only two carnivores with a prehensile tail. The other is the kinkajou.
Binturongs drag their tails on branches to mark their territory. A gland under the tail produces an oil that most people say smells like popcorn. In addition to discouraging predators, scent marking helps them find mates. Despite marking their territory, they’re not particularly territorial, as evidenced by overlapping home ranges.
Binturongs make a variety of vocalizations including snorts and chuckles when happy and a high-pitched wail when bothered. They also make loud howls, low grunts and hisses.
It is not uncommon to see binturongs as program animals at other AZA facilities, participating in educational activities and meeting guests up close.
Binturongs have good vision in both light and dark conditions, so reports of activity patterns vary. Some sources report them to be nocturnal while others report them as diurnal or crepuscular. A common observation is reduced activity from midday to late afternoon.
They are decent swimmers and have been documented diving to obtain food.
The population of binturongs managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) is declining due to an aging population. About 1/3 of the current population is non-breeding.

References

Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (2019). Species Survival Statistics [Data file]. Retrieved from https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2332/survival_statistics_library_-_expires_1_dec_2019.pdf
Binturong. (n.d.). Retrieved on December 2, 2019 from https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/binturong
Civet. (n.d.). Retrieved on December 5, 2019 from https://www.britannica.com/animal/civet-mammal-Viverridae-family
Delayed Implantation. (n.d.). Retrieved on December 5, 2019 from http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/glossary/definition/delayed_implantation
Schleif, M. (n.d.). Arctictis binturong. Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved on December 4, 2019 from https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Arctictis_binturong/
Willcox, D.H.A., Chutipong, W., Gray, T.N.E., Cheyne, S., Semiasi, G., Rahman, H., … Tilker, A. (2016). Arctictis binturong. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41690A45217088.en
Zoo Atlanta animal care team

Updated December 2019

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