Binturong

This mammal lives in trees in extensive forests – from Assam in India down to Mainland Southeast Asia, and also in the Indonesian archipelago.

It is omnivorous. It sometimes catches animals, such as rodents and even fish, but it mainly feeds on plants, in particular fruits, helping the seeds to be disseminated in its faeces. It is believed that the female is able – a rare ability in mammals – to adjust the development of her embryos in relation to periods when food is abundant.

The Binturong (a Malay name) is great at climbing trees, and is even capable to descend along branches with its head down. It has a prehensile tail as long as its body, which gives it a good grip. It also has musk glands, which smell, it is said, like hot popcorn! Binturongs are mostly active at night. They sleep rolled up into balls in tree-hollows.

The species is relatively endangered as a result of deforestation.