What Is a Binturong? 12 Facts About One of Nature’s Most Critically Endangered Species.

You’ll be forgiven for not having heard of a binturong. These critically endangered animals look like little dark demons, but they are actually very cute. Called bearcats, although they don’t look anything like bears, nor cats, binturongs are elusive animals found only in Southeast Asia, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam . They are closely related to civets and fossas, and spend most of their lives hiding in trees, hunting, and foraging for food only at night. Now, let’s dive into some fascinating facts about the binturong.

#1 Prehensile Tail for Tree Life

One of the most distinctive features of the binturong is its prehensile tail, which acts like an extra limb. This muscular tail allows the binturong to navigate through trees effortlessly. It is one of only two carnivorous species with this adaptation, with the other being the kinkajou. The binturong’s tail can be almost as long as its body, which gives it excellent balance while climbing​.

#2 They Smell Like Buttered Popcorn

A fun and peculiar fact about the binturong is its unique scent, which many people liken to the smell of buttered popcorn. This odor comes from a chemical compound found in their urine called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. The scent serves as a form of communication, marking their territory and signaling to other binturongs that they are nearby​.

#3 Binturongs are Omnivorous

Although they have the sharp teeth and claws typical of carnivores, binturongs have a diverse diet. They primarily feed on fruits like figs, but they also eat small animals such as birds, rodents, insects, and fish. They occasionally consume eggs, leaves, and even carrion. Interestingly, binturongs play a vital role in seed dispersal, especially for the strangler fig tree, as the seeds pass through their digestive system and are spread throughout the forest​.

#4 Rare and On the Verge of Extinction

Binturongs are considered vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to habitat loss and hunting. On the verge of possible extinction, they are often hunted for their meat, fur, and even for the exotic pet trade. Deforestation, particularly for palm oil plantations, has led to a significant decrease in their population across Southeast Asia​.

#5 Unique Social Behavior

Binturongs are mostly solitary animals, though they may come together to mate. Females are larger than males, which is uncommon among many mammals. When threatened or trying to attract a mate, binturongs make a range of vocalizations, from purring when content to loud, cat-like screams when distressed​.

#6 Females Practice Delayed Implantation

Female binturongs have a fascinating reproductive trait called embryonic diapause, where they can delay the implantation of a fertilized egg. This allows them to wait for optimal conditions before starting pregnancy. Once the embryo implants, the gestation period lasts around 90-92 days, and typically, two cubs are born at a time​.

#7 Arboreal Experts

Though they are quite large, with adults weighing between 20-30 pounds and sometimes reaching up to 50 pounds in captivity, binturongs are skilled climbers. However, they cannot leap between trees, which forces them to descend to the ground and climb again when moving between tree canopies. They use their strong tails and semi-retractable claws for gripping branches tightly​.

#8 Nocturnal Foragers

As nocturnal creatures, binturongs are primarily active at night. They sleep during the day, often curled up in tree branches. Their excellent sense of smell and hearing helps them navigate and hunt in the dark. This nighttime activity reduces their risk of encountering predators and humans​.

#9 Lowland Forest Dwellers

Binturongs inhabit lowland forests and thrive in tropical rainforests, mangroves, and grasslands. These environments provide the food sources and tree cover they need to survive. Unfortunately, deforestation and habitat destruction in these areas have contributed to the species’ decline​.

#10 Long Lifespan in Captivity

In the wild, binturongs typically live around 16 to 18 years. However, in captivity, they can live up to 25 years. Their longevity in zoos and sanctuaries is attributed to the consistent access to food, medical care, and lack of predators​.

#11 They Are Captured to Make Coffee

In Indonesia, binturongs have been used along with the Common Palm civet, another Viverridae, to make “kopi luwak” (civet coffee) — an expensive drink produced by feeding the animals coffee beans, which they digest and defecate; the beans are then brewed into a kind of coffee. In fact, Indonesian “luwak farmers” have been known to raise captive binturongs for this purpose.

#12 Important for Ecology

The binturong plays a vital role in forest ecology as a key distributor of strangler fig seeds. These animals feast on the fruit and disperse the seeds across the forest through their droppings. This contributes to seed distribution and germination, as a digestive enzyme in the binturong’s stomach softens the tough seed coating, allowing the seeds to sprout. Without this process, the strangler fig’s reproduction would be severely hindered. The loss of binturongs could disrupt Southeast Asian rainforest ecosystems, though the full impact remains uncertain. The binturong is a fascinating yet little-known species whose exact population in the wild remains unknown due to the difficulty in observing them. Ground-based camera traps have provided most sightings. On a positive note, while the species is endangered in the wild, binturongs are relatively common in captivity and can be found in zoos across the world.