Binturongs are unusual carnivores of Southeast Asian forests whose prehensile tails and arboreal lifestyle require specialized zoo environments rarely provided at adequate quality.
Binturong welfare in zoos hinges on providing the arboreal complexity their physiology demands. Their prehensile tail is an active locomotory tool, not a vestigial feature — enclosures without substantial climbing structures at multiple heights prevent normal movement and cause behavioral frustration. Being nocturnal, binturongs experience stress in high-traffic zoo environments during day visitor hours. Their solitary nature means forced pairings outside breeding periods cause chronic stress. Diet in captivity must accommodate their omnivorous needs including fruit, insects, and occasional small vertebrates. Binturongs have become more common in zoo collections partly due to their appealing appearance, but welfare standards lag behind their popularity — many facilities do not provide adequate arboreal complexity or respect their nocturnal schedules.