Binturong Welfare in Zoos: Scent, Space, and Nocturnal Needs

Binturongs — large, slow-moving civets native to South and Southeast Asian forests — are increasingly common in zoos. Meeting their complex sensory, spatial, and thermal needs requires careful habitat design and management.

Key Facts

Binturongs (Arctictis binturong) are the largest members of the family Viverridae in Asia
They are primarily nocturnal and arboreal, spending most of their lives in forest canopy
Binturongs produce a distinctive popcorn-like scent from anal scent glands used for territory marking
Wild home ranges can span several square kilometres of continuous forest
They are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss and hunting for the exotic pet trade
Binturongs have prehensile tails — one of the few Old World mammals with this adaptation
In zoos, they are often kept in small exhibits that restrict climbing and exploration
Females are larger than males, and social dynamics in captive groups need careful management

Welfare Considerations

Binturongs present specific welfare challenges in captivity. Their nocturnal nature means standard daytime zoo hours conflict with their peak activity periods; daytime exhibition can cause chronic stress unless exhibits allow retreat into dark, sheltered dens. Arboreal adaptations mean that exhibits without significant vertical structure and varied climbing substrates leave binturongs unable to perform natural locomotion. Scent marking is central to their behavioural repertoire, and allowing animals to deposit and investigate scent marks — including through novel scent enrichment — supports psychological wellbeing. Thermal regulation is important too: binturongs from tropical forests may struggle in temperate climates without heated indoor access. Feeding enrichment that mimics foraging — hiding fruit in foliage, scatter feeding, puzzle feeders — can substantially increase activity budgets. Social housing should be assessed individually, as some binturongs are tolerant of conspecifics while others show aggression.

What You Can Do

Support zoos that invest in naturalistic, vertically complex habitats for binturongs
Advocate for nocturnal house facilities that allow binturongs to be active without daytime disruption
Raise awareness of binturong threats in the wild including deforestation and the exotic pet trade
Never support the keeping of binturongs as pets — they have highly specialised needs
Donate to Southeast Asian forest conservation programmes that protect binturong habitat