Habitat

Lives in canopies of tall, dense tropical rainforest.

Natural behavior

Primarily arboreal, but does descend to ground level, usually to move from tree to tree. Nocturnal but having diurnal and crepuscular tendencies. Non-migrant but not strictly territorial and may have overlapping ranges

Description

Shaggy dark fur all over, small face with stiff white whiskers and a thick muscular prehensile tail, as long as its body. Binturongs also have good vision day and night.

Distribution

Widespread in South and South East Asia

Diet

omnivore; primarily frugivorous eating fruit but also insects, birds, rodents, eggs, carrion and fish as well as tree shoots and leaves.

Reproduction

Breeding can occur twice a year without a strict breeding season, although peak births often occur from Jan-March. Binturongs are one of the few animals that can delay implantation to time birth for favourable environmental conditions. Females will attract males when in oestrus by calling. Males may or may not provide parental care but females provide care until young are independent.

Social structure

Generally solitary, avoiding each other in overlapping ranges but will sometimes form small family groups where the female is dominant. Offspring will remain with the female until maturity and may continue to live as a group after maturity is reached.

Threats

Hunting for human consumption, illegal pet trade, skin and traditional medicine market. Also affected by habitat destruction.