Binturong

Just a few facts I learned about this animal that I had never heard of before. The binturong, also known as the bearcat, is a unique mammal found in Southeast Asian forests. Despite its name, it is not a bear nor a cat, but a member of the Viverridae family, which includes civets and genets. It has a distinctive scent reminiscent of buttered popcorn, due to its anal glands secretion. The binturong is an excellent climber, with semi-retractable claws and a prehensile tail, and feeds primarily on fruits, but also eats insects and small mammals. It is an important seed disperser, and its conservation status is currently classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting.