Binturong

The binturong is native to the forests of Southeast Asia. Its range is wide. It can be seen in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

There is no fixed breeding season for the binturong. When the female goes into heat, she emits vocalizations to attract the males. Outside this period, the male tends to avoid the female. She gives birth to 1 to 6 young, which are born blind after a gestation period of 92 days. They open their eyes after 15 days.

It is a carnivore in terms of classification, however, its diet is omnivorous. It feeds on fruit for 80% of its diet, thus contributing to the dispersal of seeds through its excrement. Its digestive system does not allow it to digest the seeds, so they are passed intact in its droppings. It is an opportunistic omnivore that supplements its diet with insects, birds, small mammals, or even carrion. It is capable of entering the water and swimming to retrieve food.

The binturong has many predators such as the dhole, clouded leopard, tiger, and Temminck’s cat.

The binturong is a species with arboreal tendencies, although it can descend to the ground. It mainly lives in the canopy to find its food. To rest, it prefers to move down to an intermediate level. Its long claws give it ease in climbing and moving in the trees. Its lifestyle remains unclear due to a lack of studies. It is mainly nocturnal, but in some locations, numerous daytime sightings have occurred.

The species is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is considered threatened. It is the subject of a European breeding program.

Like many species from the forests of Southeast Asia