Binturong
Published on 09 Apr 2025
- Recently, the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam has received the addition of two new mammalian species, the elusive binturong (Arctictis binturong) and the small-clawed otter.
- It is the largest civet in India colloquially known as the bearcat.
- It is a generally solitary and nocturnal animal that spends the majority of its time moving about slowly and cautiously amongst the trees.
- It has scent glands which are located just under its tail. These glands are used to mark trees and foliage to outline an individual’s territory.
- The binturong is one of only two carnivores that has a prehensile tail. (The other is the kinkajou).
- The prehensile tail acts almost like another leg helping both with climbing, and gripping onto branches to give the Binturong more stability.
Conservation status
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- Wildlife Protection Act of 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix III