The bearcat that smells exactly like hot buttered popcorn
This shaggy jungle animal smells exactly like hot buttered popcorn.
Which one is REALLY true about the Binturong?
The short version
The binturong, or 'bearcat,' is neither a bear nor a cat. It lives high in Southeast Asia's rainforest canopy and really does smell like buttered popcorn — thanks to a popcorn-like chemical in the oil it scent-marks with. It has a long prehensile tail that grips like a fifth hand, and can rotate its back ankles to climb down trees headfirst.
Why it's so weird
- ✓The Binturong smells exactly like hot buttered popcorn, thanks to a popcorn-like chemical in the oil it scent-marks with.
- ✓The Binturong is neither a bear nor a cat, even though everyone calls it the bearcat.
- ✓The Binturong spends nearly its whole life high in the rainforest canopy of Southeast Asia.
- ✓The Binturong has a long muscular prehensile tail that grips branches like a fifth hand, so it can hang and climb with ease.
- ✓The Binturong can rotate its back ankles almost all the way around, letting it walk straight down a tree trunk headfirst.
You could line up about 2 of them along a 7-year-old!
The full story
This shaggy jungle animal is famous for one bizarre reason. It smells exactly like hot buttered popcorn. Meet the binturong, also called the bearcat, though it is neither a bear nor a cat. It lives high in the rainforest canopy of Southeast Asia, and its scent really does smell like a movie theater, thanks to a popcorn-like chemical in the oil it uses to mark its territory. But the smell is just the start. The binturong has a long, muscular, prehensile tail that works like a fifth hand, gripping branches so it can hang and climb with ease. It can even rotate its back ankles almost completely around, letting it walk straight down a tree trunk headfirst. Slow, shaggy, and smelling of popcorn, it is one of the strangest animals in the whole jungle. Follow for more weird animal facts.
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“The Binturong smells exactly like hot buttered popcorn, thanks to a popcorn-like chemical in the oil it scent-marks with.”
“The Binturong has a male that snaps open a cape of jet-black feathers to win a mate.”
“The Binturong is neither a bear nor a cat, even though everyone calls it the bearcat.”