Binturong

forest · Asia · unusual-animals · climber

Tree-dwelling expert. Binturongs are amazing climbers that live high up in the forests of South and Southeast Asia, using their long, bushy, prehensile tail like an extra hand to grip branches and balance as they move through the trees.

Popcorn-scented musk. The binturong has special musk glands that produce a distinctive smell, many people say it smells just like fresh popcorn! Scientists think they use this scent to communicate with other binturongs.

Bearcat mystery. Even though people call it a "bearcat," the binturong isn't actually related to bears or cats, it's a viverrid, which makes it more closely related to civets and genets.

Thick, shaggy fur. The binturong has long, thick hair that is mostly dark (usually black or brown) but can have whitish spots mixed in, which helps it blend in with the shadows of the forest.