There are 14 binturongs as of now in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) care and 11 in other facilities all over the globe. They’re currently classified as Vulnerable and their populations have been declining more than 30 percent over the past 30 years due to the hunting and pet trade.
Where are binturong found?
southeast Asia
Binturongs, also known as bearcats, live in the canopies of tropical rain forests in southeast Asia. They use their prehensile tail, which can be as long as their body, as another limb to help them climb. They have an important role in the rainforest ecosystem.
Are binturongs extinct?
Vulnerable (Population decreasing)
Binturong/Conservation status
Why do humans hunt binturongs?
Binturongs are sometimes hunted for their meat, skin, and the pet trade; they also have body parts that are used in the Chinese medicine market.
What is the lifespan of a binturong?
Fertility lasts until 15 years of age. The maximum known lifespan in captivity is thought to be over 25 years of age.
Why do Binturongs smell like popcorn?
Researchers have ferreted out why the binturong, a threatened Southeast Asian mammal also known as the bearcat, smells like popcorn. The culprit is 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, or 2-AP, the same molecule that gives cooked popcorn its aroma.
Why the binturong is called a bearcat?
Binturongs are also called bearcats, but that name is rather misleading since they are not related to bears OR cats. Instead, they are related to civets and fossas but look more like gigantic dust mops and smell like a freshly made batch of popcorn!
How many babies does a binturong have?
The estrous cycle of the binturong lasts 18 to 187 days, with an average of 82.5 days. Gestation lasts 84 to 99 days. Litter size in captivity varies from one to six young, with an average of two young per birth.
