Binturongs are unusual carnivores that have evolved to be primarily frugivorous and arboreal, requiring zoo management that reflects their specialised ecology through appropriate diet provision, climbing structures, and scent enrichment.
Binturong welfare in zoos requires attention to their primarily frugivorous diet, arboreal lifestyle, and nocturnal activity patterns. Feeding a primarily meat-based diet to an animal that has evolved to digest fruit is nutritionally inappropriate and may cause chronic digestive issues. Enrichment should include whole fruits, seeds, and climbing structures that allow natural arboreal movement including use of the prehensile tail. Scent marking substrates and opportunities are important behavioural outlets. Nocturnal or crepuscular activity scheduling for keeper interaction aligns better with their natural activity patterns than daytime feeding regimes.