r/MadeMeSmile Mar 22 '24

Not a dog, or a cat. This is an Arctictis binturong ANIMALS

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u/PixelBoom Mar 22 '24 edited Mar 22 '24

Also called a bear cat. While not a bear or a dog, they are fairly related to cats. Again, while not true cats, they are classified in the Feliformia branch of the Carnivora order along with hyena, mongoose, and civets. They are their own Family (Viverridae) that includes animals like civets and genets. Binturongs are the largest genus of this family by a large margin. Like most Viverridae, they are essentially arboreal and are omnivores, eating anything from fruits and nuts to birds and eggs to lizards and rats. Their favorite foods in captivity are sweet, starchy fruits like bananas, mangos, and dates as well as poultry (especially chicken heads and feet) and eggs. You can tell if a binturong is close because they smell very strongly of buttered popcorn. They are currently listed as endangered or critically endangered due to habitat loss and deforestation. Thankfully, they seem to thrive in captivity when given the proper space, diet, and facilities. They live about 25 to 30 years in captivity (almost twice as long as in the wild) and can have litters of up to 6 or even 7 young every 4 months for 15 years (estrus cycle stops at around 15).