Why so many binturongs?

[SwampDonkey]

Seriously, it seems like in the last 5 years these things have become very common in AZA zoos. I am sure they were around before, but it seems like nearly every zoo has a pair and they are really advertising them.

Is it simply me just noticing it or was there some event that caused them to spread through zoos? I'll be honest, I don't particularly care for them overall, especially when they replace other species. At ZooTampa they replaced the clouded leopards who were then been moved to a semi-off public area. They also did a large advertising campaign locally for the binturongs at ZooTampa when they first came.

 

[PossumRoach]

For Florida it makes sense because they are a good alternative for little red menaces red pandas, while are not suited for the Florida heat and humidity are almost in every accreditted zoo even one as small as the Brandywine Zoo.

There is also the fact that binturongs, as far as I know, are not bound by the ESA which would have made it difficult for tehm to cross state lines. That and the entire population of binturongs don't seem to be "monopolized" for lack of a better term by the AZA and other major zoo accreditation bodies.

Otherise what you seem to be going through is what I am feeling with red pandas or European users with meerkats. A binturong fatigue, which I never would have thought would even happen to any zoo enthusiast (then again I almost had a Visayan warty pig fatigue when I stayed in Florida so it seems plausible).

 

[Corangurilla]

Seriously, it seems like in the last 5 years these things have become very common in AZA zoos. I am sure they were around before, but it seems like nearly every zoo has a pair and they are really advertising them.

Is it simply me just noticing it or was there some event that caused them to spread through zoos? I'll be honest, I don't particularly care for them overall, especially when they replace other species. At ZooTampa they replaced the clouded leopards who were then been moved to a semi-off public area. They also did a large advertising campaign locally for the binturongs at ZooTampa when they first came.

Um… I haven’t seen a binturong in 3 years, so I’m almost jealous that you’re getting sick of them .

little red menaces red pandas

The real red menaces come from Australia and they hop. Red Pandas may be shockingly common, but at least they aren’t replacing beloved exhibits that held rare species in the past at an alarming rate .

 

[SusScrofa]

I haven't noticed Binturongs being that common. I think there was recent imports that increased the US zoo population, so that might be why they are popping up more. They are a very odd and interesting looking animal, so I can see why they're being marketed by zoos. Most exhibits with them aren't great, though. They almost always sleep up high in their enclosures and combined with their dark shaggy fur, are very hard to view.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Hmm, maybe it is just my perception and zoos that I happen to have been to in the last few years

As to the habitats, you are correct @SusScrofa . In the case of ZooTampa the habitat was originally designed for Persian leopards and then held clouded leopards.

 

[Aardwolf]

My take - binturongs make great ambassador animals. A lot of zoos wanted them, few of them were being kept in breeding situations because they were all for program use, and as a result there was high demand, low supply. This has happened with other popular ambassador species in the past, such as PT porcupine and Patagonian cavy. There's been a push to get zoos to take animals and establish breeding pairs to boost the sustainability of the species so that there will be a supply of animals for exhibit and education in the future.

 

[SwampDonkey]

My take - binturongs make great ambassador animals. A lot of zoos wanted them, few of them were being kept in breeding situations because they were all for program use, and as a result there was high demand, low supply. This has happened with other popular ambassador species in the past, such as PT porcupine and Patagonian cavy. There's been a push to get zoos to take animals and establish breeding pairs to boost the sustainability of the species so that there will be a supply of animals for exhibit and education in the future.

That makes a lot of sense. ZT had a pup(?) this year, so they are breeding them now.

 

[StoppableSan]

For Florida it makes sense because they are a good alternative for little red menaces red pandas, while are not suited for the Florida heat and humidity are almost in every accreditted zoo even one as small as the Brandywine Zoo.

There is also the fact that binturongs, as far as I know, are not bound by the ESA which would have made it difficult for tehm to cross state lines. That and the entire population of binturongs don't seem to be "monopolized" for lack of a better term by the AZA and other major zoo accreditation bodies.

Otherise what you seem to be going through is what I am feeling with red pandas or European users with meerkats. A binturong fatigue, which I never would have thought would even happen to any zoo enthusiast (then again I almost had a Visayan warty pig fatigue when I stayed in Florida so it seems plausible).

Funny you mention Brandywine, as they replaced their binturong with red pandas back in 2014.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Yeah, Red Pandas are quite common now. Brights Zoo has some too. ZooTampa had a pair on loan for a bit, but that was back in the late 90s for the zoo's 10 year anniversary celebration.

 

[Great Argus]

Seriously, it seems like in the last 5 years these things have become very common in AZA zoos. I am sure they were around before, but it seems like nearly every zoo has a pair and they are really advertising them.

Is it simply me just noticing it or was there some event that caused them to spread through zoos? I'll be honest, I don't particularly care for them overall, especially when they replace other species. At ZooTampa they replaced the clouded leopards who were then been moved to a semi-off public area. They also did a large advertising campaign locally for the binturongs at ZooTampa when they first came.

I've never seen one yet so they're not that common, at least over here.
SDZ and Oregon with ambassador animals, and then a unaccredited safari park I think is it for the west coast. Oregon's is a fairly recent addition I believe.

 

[SusScrofa]

I've never seen one yet so they're not that common, at least over here.
SDZ and Oregon with ambassador animals, and then a unaccredited safari park I think is it for the west coast. Oregon's is a fairly recent addition I believe.

LA should also have them, or at least they did back in February.

 

[Jambo]

LA should also have them, or at least they did back in February.

They still do have a pair.

Yeah, Red Pandas are quite common now. Brights Zoo has some too. ZooTampa had a pair on loan for a bit, but that was back in the late 90s for the zoo's 10 year anniversary celebration.

Red Pandas are very similar to Binturongs, and alongside that, are a very popular species (due to their colour) and lack the nasty stench binturongs give.

Red Pandas are also endangered, whereas Binturongs are vulnerable; so many zoos are part of the breeding program for Red Pandas. Most of the binturong population (at least in the US), are ambassadors.

 

[Zoofan15]

Red Pandas are very similar to Binturongs, and alongside that, are a very popular species (due to their colour) and lack the nasty stench binturongs give.

Depending on your preference, most people like the smell of Binturong, which smell like a freshly made batch of popcorn. The chemical compound that gives popcorn its aroma is also found in Binturong urine.

 

[birdsandbats]

Another reason may be that Binturong are really easy to get through the private trade.

 

[TinoPup]

There's ~85 zoos with red pandas and ~95 with binturong. There's only 6 or so zoos outside AZA with red panda, most of which were recently AZA (Pittsburgh, Erie, etc). On the flip side, there's only 25 or so AZA zoos that have binturong, with 70 or so outside AZA keeping them (much harder to confirm holders than the pandas are!)

 

[aardvark250]

For Florida it makes sense because they are a good alternative for little red menaces red pandas, while are not suited for the Florida heat and humidity are almost in every accreditted zoo even one as small as the Brandywine Zoo.

There is also the fact that binturongs, as far as I know, are not bound by the ESA which would have made it difficult for tehm to cross state lines. That and the entire population of binturongs don't seem to be "monopolized" for lack of a better term by the AZA and other major zoo accreditation bodies.

Otherise what you seem to be going through is what I am feeling with red pandas or European users with meerkats. A binturong fatigue, which I never would have thought would even happen to any zoo enthusiast (then again I almost had a Visayan warty pig fatigue when I stayed in Florida so it seems plausible).

Red pandas are cute, have bright coloration and playful. Binturongs always sleep, and look like a black/gray blob. (dont really have opinion on their smell, dont really smell it despite one on top of my head)

I'll take red pandas 10/10 times

 

[Corangurilla]

Red pandas are cute, have bright coloration and playful. Binturongs always sleep, and look like a black/gray blob. (dont really have opinion on their smell, dont really smell it despite one on top of my head)

I'll take red pandas 10/10 times

As much as I love Red Pandas, I would not want to subject them to the heat of an Arizona summer.
I’m shocked that no zoos or whatever in Arizona have Binturongs, as far as I know. You’d think that the Wildlife World Zoo would have one, given their extensive collection, but it doesn’t look like they do.

 

[aardvark250]

As much as I love Red Pandas, I would not want to subject them to the heat of an Arizona summer.
I’m shocked that no zoos or whatever in Arizona have Binturongs, as far as I know. You’d think that the Wildlife World Zoo would have one, given their extensive collection, but it doesn’t look like they do.

Binturong dont live in deserts either

 

[Corangurilla]

Binturong dont live in deserts either

Neither do most of the animals on the Tropics Trail at the Phoenix Zoo, but they’re there.
Hilariously enough, Reid Park temporarily held Red Pandas in 2017 while their habitat in Hogle was being built, and they plan to exhibit them again once their new Asian expansion opens.
Meanwhile, I don’t think there have ever been any Binturongs in Arizona.

 

[blospz]

I am thrilled they are getting more popular in zoos. However, listening to visitors by the Smithsonian National Zoo binturong exhibit, many people don't know what they are or have seen them before.