Globally vulnerable Binturong captured
A rare Binturong, also known as bearcat, has been captured in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj.
Residents of Brahmangaon village under North Borodal union captured the Binturong yesterday when it jumped off a tree being scared after seeing the villagers.
On information, Officer-in-Charge of Tahirpur Police Station Nandan Kanti Dhar and Assigned Officer of Doloichhari Saiful Islam rescued the animal from the villagers.
Later, Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer RSM Monirul Islam brought the Binturong to Sylhet and then it was sent to Srimangal today.
The animal will be released to Madhabpur forest in Moulvibazar, reports our correspondent.
Binturong (scientific name: Arctictis binturong) is the largest species of the Viverridae, only rivaled by the African civet. They are found in the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Yunnan in China, and from Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java in Indonesia to Palawan in the Philippines.
Binturongs are robust animals, growing around 2-3 feet long (double if the tail is included) and weigh between 25 and 50 pounds. They have short, stout legs, thick fur of strong black hair, and a bushy tail that is thick at the root, gradually diminishing in size to the extremity, where it curls inwards. The eyes are large, black and prominent. The ears are short, rounded, edged with white, and terminated by tufts of black hair. They are mainly carnivorous, but also eat fruits.
Binturongs are secretive in nature and are not often spotted in the wild. They’re currently classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with populations declining more than 30 percent over the past 30 years. The main threats to Binturongs are habitat destruction, hunting, and the wildlife trade.
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