Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Animal

Binturong

The binturong (*Arctictis binturong*) is a tree-dwelling mammal native to South and Southeast Asia.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

The binturong is a tree-dwelling mammal from South and Southeast Asia, also known as the bearcat. Despite its nickname, it belongs to the civet family and is famous for its popcorn-like scent.

What it is

The binturong is a medium-to-large mammal with shaggy dark fur, whiskers, and a long prehensile tail. It is sometimes described as a mix of a cat and a bear, but it is not closely related to either — it belongs to the civet family Viverridae.

Habitat and behaviour

Binturongs live in tropical rainforests across South and Southeast Asia. They are nocturnal and spend most of their time in the canopy, using their prehensile tail for balance. Their diet is mainly fruit, especially figs, but they also eat insects, birds, and small vertebrates. A scent gland near the tail produces the well-known popcorn-like odour.

Conservation and relevance

Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, binturongs face habitat loss and hunting in parts of their range. In Canada, they are of interest to zoo visitors and wildlife educators, and some zoological collections keep them for conservation and public education.

In short

  • Not a bear or cat – it's a civet relative.
  • Known for a popcorn-like scent from its tail glands.
  • Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
  • Spends most of its life in trees using a prehensile tail.
Canadian angle

Binturongs are of interest to Canadian zoo visitors and wildlife educators, and are kept in some zoological collections used for conservation and public education.

Quick questions

What is a binturong?
A binturong is a tree-dwelling mammal native to South and Southeast Asia. It is also called a bearcat, though it is actually a civet relative, not a bear or cat.
Do binturongs smell like popcorn?
Yes. Binturongs are known for a scent often compared to buttered popcorn, produced by secretions from glands near the tail.
Is a binturong a bear?
No. Despite the name bearcat, a binturong is not a bear. It belongs to the civet family, Viverridae, and is more closely related to civets and genets.

Sources

  1. San Diego Zoo — https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/binturong
    Supports: Physical description, diet, relatedness to bears and cats, and popcorn-like smell.
  2. Smithsonian's National Zoo — https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/binturong
    Supports: Native range, tree-dwelling habits, and bearcat nickname not indicating close relation to bears or cats.
  3. National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/binturong
    Supports: Native habitat in South and Southeast Asia and taxonomic relationship to civets.
  4. IUCN Red List — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41690/45217782
    Supports: Conservation status as Vulnerable.