Unusual new species goes on show at Port Lympne

Keepers at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park are pleased to announce the arrival of their first Binturong. This unusual animal is a brand new species for the park. The 3 year old male, called Watt, arrived at the park from another collection earlier in the summer but is only now venturing out into the public viewing area.

Head Small Carnivore keeper, Neville Buck, explains:

‘Watt has actually been here several weeks but he is a shy individual and has been taking time getting used to his new surroundings. When he arrived he was very cautious and confined himself to his nest-box, but we were gradually able to coax him out and eventually he was accepting food from the end of a stick. He is gaining in confidence now and can often be spotted up in the trees of his open-topped enclosure. Binturongs are primarily nocturnal so the best time to see him is late afternoon.'

Binturongs are found in the rainforests of south-east Asia. The Binturong has a face like a cat and long shaggy black fur like a bear, earning them the name ‘Bear cat'. Not related to either, it is in fact the largest member of the civet family. The Binturong's tail is prehensile, perfectly adapting them for climbing and gripping branches in the canopy. Its diet primarily consists of fruits, leaves and shoots and on occasion eggs and small rodents or birds.

Neville Buck commented:

‘We are delighted to have a new species at the park and look forward to seeing more and more of Watt in the future. Binturongs are vulnerable and in decline due to deforestation and so we hope to acquire a mate for Watt in the near future so he can breed and do his part to help conserve this unusual species.'

Posted 31.08.10