Binturong

Meet the Binturong!

The binturong is the largest species of all the vivérridae (civets, genets and related species). Its natural habitat is forests, and it lives almost always on trees in South and Southeast Asia, Borneo, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Its body is robust and has a long prehensile tail with which it clings to the branches of the trees where it lives. Its body is black with slightly silvery tips and its head has red eyes and large white whiskers, sensitive to the touch, which guide it in the dark.

After a gestation period of 84-99 days, the female gives birth to one to three young.

What are its habits?

Animal of nocturnal habits. It is characterized by being very cautious, good climbers and its movements are always very restrained, orderly and calm.

It lives in trees and with its black coloration is very difficult to spot in the dark. Its most developed senses are hearing and smell.

It feeds on fruits and small birds, reptiles or insects.

Conservation

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated

DID YOU KNOW ...

All vivérridae have a unique perianal gland that produces a very odorous substance called “civetone”, a product historically used in ancient perfumery, being one of the main causes of illegal trafficking in species such as the African civet.