El binturong de Palawan és una subespècie de binturong endèmica de les illa de Palawan, a Filipines.
El binturong de Palawan pot créixer fins als 1,4 metres. Les orelles llargues i cobertes de pèl blanc i les barbes blanques, que poden tenir la mateixa longitud que el cap, són senyes particulars del binturong. Són generalment dòcils al tracte, però tenen urpes i dents que poden utilitzar per esquinçar fàcilment la carn. Es poden suspendre enrotllant la seva forta cua prènsil al voltant de les branques dels arbres. Les seves pupil·les verticals indiquen que es tracta d'un animal nocturn. Tenen un pelatge aspre i gruixut de color marró o negre.
El binturong de Palawan habita l'espessa vegetació dels boscos de les terres baixes de Palawan. Es camufla a la densa vegetació dels boscos per escapar dels depredadors.
El binturong de Palawan és omnívor. S'alimenta tant de fruits i petits animals com de rosegadors i ocells. És considerat com a plaga pels agricultors, atès que fa presa de les aus de corral.
Aquesta espècie és capturada pel comerç com a mascota. Al sud de la seva àrea de distribució també es captura pel consum humà.
El binturong de Palawan és una subespècie de binturong endèmica de les illa de Palawan, a Filipines.
The Palawan bearcat (Arctictis binturong whitei), also commonly known as the Palawan binturong, is a subspecies of the binturong, a mammal in the family Viverridae.[1] It is endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
The Palawan binturong can grow to as much as 1.4 metres (4.6 ft). Distinguishing characteristics are the ears that are lined with white fur, and long, white whiskers that can be as long as the length of its head. Generally docile when handled, the bearcat nevertheless has sharp claws and teeth that can easily rip through flesh. It can suspend itself by curling its strong prehensile tail around branches. Its vertically oriented pupil indicates that it is a nocturnal animal. It has coarse, thick black-brown fur.
The Palawan binturong inhabits tropical rainforest habitat. It is an omnivore, feeding on fruit, small animals, and carrion.[2]
These animals are generally arboreal, living in woods, including rainforests, as well as agricultural areas and human settlements. They are omnivores, eating a wide range of fruits, insects, small mammals, and birds.[3]
Binturongs in Palawan are solitary creatures that are active at night. They communicate with one another by a range of vocalizations like as grunts, hisses, and growls.[3]
These animals have a modest reproductive rate and give birth to a single youngster following a 90-day gestation period. For the first few months of their lives, the young are born with their eyes closed and utterly reliant on their mother.[3]
Due to its limited distribution, the Palawan binturong may be of conservation concern, and because of its reliance on the forest, it is threatened by deforestation, which is a severe problem in Palawan: Between 2000 and 2017, 11% of the world's forest was lost.[3] Furthermore, Palawan is a hub for illegal wildlife trade, with Palawan binturongs being seized on a regular basis (The IUCN lists the Palawan binturong as Vulnerable; the main threats it faces are destruction and degradation of primary rainforest, hunting for meat, use in traditional medicines and as pets, and accidental or intentional snaring, which is exacerbated by negligible penalties for hunting and trade in some countries.[3] They, like ordinary palm civets (Paradoxurus spp.), are live-trapped and kept in farms in Indonesia for the manufacture of civet coffee, with poor living conditions leading in significant mortality. This subspecies is harvested for the pet trade. In the south of its range it is also taken for human consumption.
The Palawan bearcat (Arctictis binturong whitei), also commonly known as the Palawan binturong, is a subspecies of the binturong, a mammal in the family Viverridae. It is endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
