Very few biologists will argue over the statement that Binturong Arctitis binturong is one of the most enigmatic of all mammals. This furry, arboreal and nocturnal mammal has flummoxed all biologists in Nepal with its uncertain status in the country. The species was described to science for the first time by Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1821 from Malaysia. While IUCN and all other related literatures concerning mammals of Nepal consider this species as occurring from Nepal however none of those literatures could actually dig out any authentic record of the species (photo, pelt or a reliable sighting). Hence it is fair to declare that Binturong is still an unanswered question for Nepal.
Binturong: the species
With its body wrapped in dark black or silvery fir and a long and bushy tail, Binturong does look like a little, cuddly bear. Probably this is one of the reasons Binturong is also known as a bear-cat. However Binturong is more closely related to Viverridae family i.e. the civets. It is a species of small carnivore that lives in the dense tropical and sub-tropical forests of south and south-east Asia. The head to body length is 28 to 33 inches while the tail measures around 26 to 27 inches. Its tail is prehensile which it can use to hold on to branches.
Fig. 1: A binturong in north-east India. Photo: Vana Safaris
Habits
Binturong is primarily an arboreal species spending most of its time in the tree branches and trunk. It is an omnivore species feeding on fruits as well as preying on small mammals and birds. Figs form a large part of their diet. It is solitary and maintains individual territory which they defend. Unlike other species of civet which are primarily nocturnal, Binturong has been found to be cathemeral i.e. showing activity without much preference to any time of the day. Contrary to what was believed previously, they have been known to be sighted frequently in good habitats.
Fig. 2: A binturong climbs down a tree headfirst in Borneo, Malaysia. Photo: Jens Hauser
Breeding and Reproduction
Research in Thailand have shown an overlap of 35% between male and female Binturong territories. Binturongs do not seem to have specific reproductive season, because they have been found to mate throughout the year. There is, however, an increase in births from January to March. The litter size is typically one to three, with a gestation of about 92 days, reaching adult size in one year and sexually maturing at around 28 months. Individual animals are known to live as long as 18 years.
Threats
Habitat loss, forest degradation through logging and conversion of forests to non-forest land-uses are believed to be topmost threats throughout binturong's range. Illegal trade on the species has also been documented however no evidence on this aspect has been documented from Nepal. IUCN has categorized the species as Vulnerable because of more than 30% population decline over three decades resulting from the aforementioned threats. The species has been aptly categorized Data Deficient considering there’s been little information available on the species in Nepal.
Records in Nepal
Potential records of this species can be traced to a lot of sites in eastern Nepal where local people frequently talk about a bear species that climb trees. Many experts though dismiss the claims saying that the people with such claims might have observed juvenile black bear as they are known to climb trees excessively. A workshop in 2010 set out to assess the status of mammals in Nepal produced a distribution map of Binturong (Fig. 1).
A recent case of Binturong discovery from Manaslu Conservation Area in Gorkha district was actually a record of a possible large-toothed ferret badger. A large-toothed ferret badger itself is an important record for Nepal considering there are very few authentic records of the species from the country. However the news didn’t bring the expected attention when it was eventually realized that the species recorded was not a Binturong. With no authentic records of Binturong from Nepal yet it is difficult to get an idea on the potential areas that provide refuge to this elusive species.
Fig. 3: Binturong is believed to reside in eastern Nepal. Source: Jnawali et al. 2011
However a study in the Khangchendzonga National Park of neighbouring Sikkim, India provided evidence of Binturong through interviews with key informants. Similar responses from local people have also been recorded from the villages surrounding Makalu-Barun National Park, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and other forests outside Protected Areas in eastern Nepal. While it is easy to confirm the species' presence based on such evidences, it is extremely difficult to ensure that they are true especially when the possibility of black bear cubs getting confused with Binturong is always there. But with no other evidences easily coming researchers' way, it could be the only lead that we should try to get hold of and dig further for more enlightenment on this elusive and magnificent wildlife species.
References
Datta, A. 1999. Small carnivores in two protected areas of Arunachal Pradesh. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 96: 399–404.
Grassman, L. I. Jr.; M. E. Tewes; N. J. Silvy 2005. Ranging, habitat use and activity patterns of binturong Arctictis binturong and yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula in north-central Thailand. Wildlife Biology, 11: 49–57.
Jnawali, S.R., Baral, H.S., Lee, S., Acharya, K.P., Upadhyay, G.P., Pandey, M., Shrestha, R., Joshi, D., Lamichhane, B.R., Griffiths, J., Khatiwada, A. and Amin, R. (Compilers). 2011. The Status of Nepal ’ s Mammals : The National Red List Series. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Sathyakumar, S., Bashir, T., Bhattacharya, T. and Poudyal, K. 2011. Assessing mammal distribution and abundance in intricate eastern Himalayan habitats of Khangchendzonga, Sikkim, India. Mammalia, 75: 257-268.
Willcox, D.H.A., Chutipong, W., Gray, T.N.E., Cheyne, S., Semiadi, G., Rahman, H., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Jennings, A., Ghimirey, Y., Ross, J., Fredriksson, G. & Tilker, A. 2016. Arctictis binturong. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41690A45217088. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41690A45217088.en. Downloaded on 02 August 2019.