Range

The binturongs are found in southeast Asia occurring in Thailand, Indochina, Myanmar, Philippines, Sumatra, Java, Nepal, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Borneo and Malaysia.

Habitat

Their habitat is tropical rainforests, high forests and jungles.

Binturongs are now classified as vulnerable mainly due to habitat destruction and poaching for their fur and their meat. Their body parts are also used in some traditional medicines and they are sometimes captured for pets.

Reproduction

Mating can take place at any time of the year as the female binturong is one of only a few mammals that can experience delayed implantation which means that the female is able to time when her young are born. She will give birth to them when the environmental conditions are at their best.

The females are bigger and heavier than the males and are the dominant sex in the species.

After a gestation period of 84 to 92 days the female will give birth usually to 1 or 2 babies but there may be up to 6. The young are born with their eyes closed and weigh about 150-300 grams, they stay hidden in their mothers fur for the first few days. They begin to eat solid foods at about 6 to 8 weeks.

They are sexually mature at about 2 and a half years of age.

Behavior

Binturongs climb trees and leap from branch to branch using its tail and claws to hang on with while it looks for food. They are primarily nocturnal creatures that sleep in tree branches during the day and look for food at night.

They mark their territory by using a scent to communicate with other binturongs that this is their territory. The binturong has a unique scent that smells like cooked buttered popcorn, the scent comes from an oil gland under the tail that puts the scent out when they drag their tail through the branches of the trees. The scent communicates to other binturongs that may be looking for a mate or if they are a trespasser to leave the territory.

They also make lots of noises to communicate with each other, they will make a chuckling sound if they are happy and will let out a high pitched wail if they are unhappy. Some of the other sounds that they make are hisses, growls and grunts.

Binturongs can be vicious if they are cornered.

The binturong has very few predators. Two animals which may prey on them are the dhole or the tiger.

Quick facts

The real meaning of the binturongs name is not known because the language that its name came from is now extinct.

The binturong has a unique scent that smells like buttered popcorn.

They are one of the few carnivores which have a prehensile tail.

They are able to turn their ankles backwards so that their claws can still grip the trees when they are climbing down headfirst.

Binturongs are also known as Asian bear cats and Malay civet cats.