Meet Our Animals

Binturong

Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
Range: Southeast Asia
Status: One subspecies is endangered, the rest are being monitored

The binturong is a Southeast Asian civet. They look a little bit like raccoons, with a long prehensile tail, but are no more related to them than dogs are to cats. They are arboreal (tree-dwelling) and are critical to maintaining the rainforest canopy through seed dispersal. While classified as carnivores because of their physical traits, they are capable of eating a wide range of food and eat an omnivorous diet, including fruit and some vegetables. Very little research has been done on this species in the wild. Much of what is known comes from a study of samples of binturongs found at the marketplace in their homeland, where some of their parts are still sought after for the Asian medicine trade. The Center’s staff is known worldwide for their expertise with this rare species in captivity.

Yogi Binturong

Yogi binturong was discovered by accident. His parents had been imported from Southeast Asia illegally, and they were seized by Fish and Wildlife officers. When the binturongs were being loaded into crates for exportation, the officers discovered baby Yogi.

Because he was born in the United States, there was no home country to return him to. So he was hand-raised by an experienced US caregiver who enjoyed his outgoing personality and appreciated his unique bloodline. She contacted us when he came of age to see if we might pair him with one of our girls. Yogi now lives with Maru binturong and we hope they will produce offspring in the future.