Binturong

About this species

Size

Body 71–84cm; tail 66–69cm

Weight

About 9–20kg

Diet

Omnivore: plants, insects and smaller animals

Habitat

Primary and secondary forest, usually lowland; recorded to 3,000m. In Assam, foothills and forested hills

Range

South and Southeast Asia, including north-east India

The binturong, or bearcat, is a heavy arboreal viverrid with a thick coat of coarse black hair and a long, bushy, prehensile tail that is thick at the root and curls inwards at the tip. The body is 71–84 cm long and the tail 66–69 cm, and weight is about 9–20 kg. The ears are short and rounded, edged with white hair, with black tufts, and the popcorn-scented musk glands are a unique feature. Young animals are often paler than adults (Wikipedia, general species account).

It occurs from India and Nepal to Southeast Asia, usually at 0–3,000 m and more often in lowland forest. In Assam it inhabits foothills and forested hills, less so forested plains. It is an omnivore, feeding on plants, insects and smaller animals, and is mainly nocturnal but also active at dusk. Females can delay implantation until conditions are right. Habitat loss, forest degradation and illegal hunting and trade are the main threats (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)