Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Viverridae
- Genus
- Arctictis
- Species
- Arctictis binturong
Habitat
This subspecies primarily inhabits tropical rainforests and dense evergreen forests in Thailand and adjacent regions of Southeast Asia. It prefers areas with thick canopy cover for arboreal movement and is often found in elevations up to 1,000 meters. These habitats provide ample trees for climbing and shelter from ground predators.
Diet
The Thailand binturong is omnivorous, feeding mainly on fruits such as figs and berries, as well as small mammals, birds, and insects. It forages nocturnally in trees, using its prehensile tail for stability while reaching for food. Feeding behavior includes caching food items for later consumption.
Behavior
Thailand binturongs are primarily nocturnal and arboreal, spending most of their time in trees where they move slowly and deliberately. They are solitary animals with overlapping home ranges, marking territories with scent from anal glands. Notable behaviors include a low growling call for communication and using their tail as a fifth limb for grasping branches.
Conservation Status
The binturong, including the Thailand subspecies, is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss from deforestation and hunting for the pet trade. Population trends are decreasing, with major threats including fragmentation of forest habitats and human encroachment.