Australasian Binturong Population

[Zoofan15]

Bhalu's therefore a full sibling to Selasa at Perth meaning he is related to quite a portion of the regional population via Selasa.

It does seem more and more likely these males are simply going to be non breeding individuals imo.

That’s correct (Bhalu and Selasa are twins) and given the age gap, it’s likely Tugu is a full (younger) sibling of these animals too.

Combined with their age, I’d assume they’ll be non breeding; but another holder is advantageous and hopefully they’ll acquire more when they pass.

It’s unclear where the region is heading, but generics being phased out for purebred Javans is a strong possibility if breeding takes off at Darling Downs Zoo and Tasmania Zoo.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Interesting to note - ZAA now lists binturong as being a managed species via a coordinator at Perth Zoo: Species Programs

 

[Tiger91]

Interesting to note - ZAA now lists binturong as being a managed species via a coordinator at Perth Zoo: Species Programs

This is great news!. Hopefully we will see more breeding and numbers climb.

 

[Abbey]

As reported by @WhistlingKite24, Australia Zoo no longer hold binturongs after the deaths of their sibling pair, Jaya and Pip, earlier this year.

 

[Tiger91]

Hopefully we can see them start to breed again in the region soon. We seem to have had some new imports, to an aging population. For such a great species for zoos to hold.

 

[Jambo]

Hopefully we can see them start to breed again in the region soon. We seem to have had some new imports, to an aging population. For such a great species for zoos to hold.

Hopefully the new Javan pairs at DDZ and Tasmania give some results soon. Looking at the rest of the region's population, it looks like the future of the regions breeding population will descend from these pairs.

 

[akasha]

As I have taken the Binturong population list back from @Abbey, I've been trying to get up to date.

Since the last update, Melbourne imported 2 males in 2023. Australia Zoo’s sibling pair died in 2024. Sari at Wildlife HQ died in May 2024, and was replaced by Selasa from Perth, the only proven breeding female in the country. Despite the import of 3 pairs in recent years, no binturong have been bred in Australia since 2019. Hopefully, DDZ or Tasmania Zoo will have success with breeding their pure Javan animals.

Below is the updated population list. (As of 02/06/2025 animals at Adelaide, Currumbin, DDZ, Melbourne, Mogo, Taronga, Tasmania and Wildlife HQ are confirmed.)

Binturong (2025)

Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia

1.0 Jakarta (Rabu x Selasa) 06/09/2017 Transferred from Perth 2018

Currumbin Sancutary, QLD, Australia

0.1 Enam (Rabu x Selasa) 06/09/2017 Transferred from Perth

Darling Downs Zoo, QLD, Australia

1.0 Barney (unk x unk) 21/04/2020 Imported from Hamerton Zoo, UK 2022 (Javan)
0.1 Molly (unk x unk) 18/10/2017 Imported from Hamerton Zoo, UK 2022 (Javan)

Hunter Valley Zoo, NSW, Australia

1.0 Boogle (unk x unk) 00/00/0000 Imported from Hamerton Zoo, UK 2019

Melbourne Zoo, VIC, Australia

1.0 Bahlu (Chucky x Putih) 20/10/2013 Imported from Singapore 2023
1.0 Tegu (unk x unk) 07/07/2014 Imported from Singapore 2023

Mogo Zoo, NSW, Australia

1.0 Baru (Emas x Pepper) 26/12/2007 Transferred from Taronga
0.1 Daisy (unk x unk) 00/00/0000 Transferred from Hunter Valley (Imported from Hamerton Zoo, UK 2019)

Perth Zoo, WA, Australia

1.0 Rabu (April x Vinta) 27/05/2014 Imported from Singapore 2016

Taronga Zoo, NSW, Australia

1.0 Rimbo (Rabu x Selasa) 09/12/2019 Transferred from Perth 2021
1.0 Kemiri (Rabu x Selasa) 09/12/2019 Transferred from Perth 2021

Tasmania Zoo, TAS, Australia

1.0 Asher Imported from Hamerton Zoo, UK 2022 (Javan)
0.1 Ana Imported from Hamerton Zoo, UK 2022 (Javan)

Wildlife HQ, QLD, Australia

0.1 Selasa (Chucky x Putih) 20/10/2013 Imported from Singapore 2016

Binturong Population Total: 15 (10.5)

 

[akasha]

Perth Zoo have confirmed that Rabu is still at the zoo and that they are 'considering acquiring in the future'. I think it would be strange if they don't, considering Perth Zoo is the species co-coordinator.

 

[Zoofan15]

Perth Zoo have confirmed that Rabu is still at the zoo and that they are 'considering acquiring in the future'. I think it would be strange if they don't, considering Perth Zoo is the species co-coordinator.

I know what you mean. It’s far more common for the studbook to be held by a zoo that actually holds the species (and in some cases, is actively breeding); though there have been exceptions.

The chimpanzee studbook was once run by Maria Finnigan at Auckland Zoo until 2006 (at which point the zoo’s sole chimpanzee was an elderly tea party chimp). She (and the studbook) then moved to Perth Zoo, which last held chimps for a brief period in the late 90’s. Lou Grossfeldt at Sydney Zoo now holds the studbook.

 

[Jambo]

Perth Zoo have confirmed that Rabu is still at the zoo and that they are 'considering acquiring in the future'. I think it would be strange if they don't, considering Perth Zoo is the species co-coordinator.

The region is certainly due for breeding again with Binturongs - the difficulty is though that Rabu (coming from a well represented Singapore line) will likely have to have a mate imported from overseas.

Considering his age, I'd much rather Perth look at acquiring a completely new pair from Europe/USA to rejuvenate the regional breeding program which has really collapsed in the last decade or so - with majority of the holders being non breeding.

 

[Zoofan15]

The region is certainly due for breeding again with Binturongs - the difficulty is though that Rabu (coming from a well represented Singapore line) will likely have to have a mate imported from overseas.

Considering his age, I'd much rather Perth look at acquiring a completely new pair from Europe/USA to rejuvenate the regional breeding program which has really collapsed in the last decade or so - with majority of the holders being non breeding.

Should Darling Downs Zoo’s Binturong pair be successful in producing young, Perth may be content to be a non-breeding holder of a sibling pair.

Since Tasmania Zoo’s pair both have A names, both come from the same facility and are both born the same year, it’d be interesting to know if they’re siblings (and therefore a non-breeding pair); and whether they’re related to Darling Downs Zoo’s pair given they come from the same facility.

 

[Jambo]

Should Darling Downs Zoo’s Binturong pair be successful in producing young, Perth may be content to be a non-breeding holder of a sibling pair.

Since Tasmania Zoo’s pair both have A names, both come from the same facility and are both born the same year, it’d be interesting to know if they’re siblings (and therefore a non-breeding pair); and whether they’re related to Darling Downs Zoo’s pair given they come from the same facility.

Hammerton have multiple breeding pairs (three I think), so there's a strong possibility they're unrelated to Darling Down's breeding pair.

Them having A names does indicate they could be siblings. It's possible they were imported with the intent of splitting this pair in the future, and creating new pairs with the DDZ animals, including any offspring produced.

 

[Riley]

The binturong pair at Tasmania Zoo are unrelated to each other

 

[Zoofan15]

The binturong pair at Tasmania Zoo are unrelated to each other

That’s great news. The general population hasn’t produced surviving offspring since 2019, so fingers crossed the two purebred Javan pairs can rejuvenate the regional population.

 

[Jambo]

The binturong pair at Tasmania Zoo are unrelated to each other

That’s great news. The general population hasn’t produced surviving offspring since 2019, so fingers crossed the two purebred Javan pairs can rejuvenate the regional population.

That likely means that the pair at Tasmania are related to Darling Down's pair - as I believe Hammerton's Binturongs were founded on two breeding pairs.

Molly (at Darling Downs) is part of the first litter born at Hammerton. And that would mean Barney would likely be apart of the first litter born to the second founding pair.

 

[Tiger91]

That likely means that the pair at Tasmania are related to Darling Down's pair - as I believe Hammerton's Binturongs were founded on two breeding pairs.

Molly (at Darling Downs) is part of the first litter born at Hammerton. And that would mean Barney would likely be apart of the first litter born to the second founding pair.

It would be good to see the region import more javan binturongs and focus on them. I wonder whether they are moving towards a single pure species program or just waiting for the older animals to die out before breeding starts up again.

 

[Zoofan15]

It would be good to see the region import more javan binturongs and focus on them. I wonder whether they are moving towards a single pure species program or just waiting for the older animals to die out before breeding starts up again.

Two unrelated pairs (if they’re successful in breeding) are probably adequate for the number of holders they’re required to supply long term; though new founders could well be imported to pair with first generation offspring to ensure some level of succession.

Many of the holders have ageing or elderly Binturong that will pass away in the coming years.

The fact no generic Binturong have been bred in six years, I would assume a shift to Javan is in progress.

 

[Tiger91]

Two unrelated pairs (if they’re successful in breeding) are probably adequate for the number of holders they’re required to supply long term; though new founders could well be imported to pair with first generation offspring to ensure some level of succession.

Many of the holders have ageing or elderly Binturong that will pass away in the coming years.

The fact no generic Binturong have been bred in six years, I would assume a shift to Javan is in progress.

Lets hope this is the case, for a species that is readily imported in recent times. Hopefully if breeding occurs mates can be imported. Or even if new founding pairs are. That would also set the population up for a while.

 

[Zoofan15]

Lets hope this is the case, for a species that is readily imported in recent times. Hopefully if breeding occurs mates can be imported. Or even if new founding pairs are. That would also set the population up for a while.

I agree it would be good to see long term sustainability of the population considered. If the DDZ and TZ pairs are related, then at a minimum founders would be required to pair with first generation offspring; but additional founders pairs could enable pairings to be made between Australian bred first generation offspring. Ultimately, I guess it depends on regional interest in this species. They’re cool animals, but not exactly a good display species.

 

[Tiger91]

I agree it would be good to see long term sustainability of the population considered. If the DDZ and TZ pairs are related, then at a minimum founders would be required to pair with first generation offspring; but additional founders pairs could enable pairings to be made between Australian bred first generation offspring. Ultimately, I guess it depends on regional interest in this species. They’re cool animals, but not exactly a good display species.

Id argue there a great display species, not only visually but also through the odor. Taronga have an amazing enclosure for them. Ive seen them out eating, up in the tree or in the sleeping boxes. There isnt a cage and you can get decently close to them. Everytime im there people are stopping and looking at them or for them, and or talking about there smell. There probably one of the most engaging smaller animals when displayed well. Simply putting them in a wire cave with a box at the back wont lead to an engaging exhibit and an animal rarely seen.