• Two young binturongs, or ‘bintlets,’ have arrived at a Michigan zoo.
• Thistle, the zoo’s female binturong, gave birth to three kids on July 4.
• The binturong’s birth was the zoo’s first in almost 20 years.

Two binturongs babies were born healthy and thriving, but the third” was found to be sick and despite 24-hour care by veterinary and animal care staff, the bintlet passed away in the week following its birth.” the zoo stated.

Due to Thistle’s calm demeanour, zoo experts could examine the binturong life cycle before the birth.

Dr Ronan Eustice, the zoo’s head of animal health, said, “Animal care staff has done a great job training the mother binturong Thistle to allow awake ultrasounds,” added, “We’ve been able to collect valuable information on fetal parameter development in Binturongs and we hope to share this information to the zoo wide community in a scientific publication in the future.”

The two newborns are growing well and gaining weight, but they won’t be on show for a few more months.

Potter Park Zoo celebrates birth of baby bintlets! Female binturong Thistle gave birth to three babies the evening of July 4. Check out our blog and follow our social media for updates! https://t.co/qtptuNqpP3 #PPZLife #Binturong pic.twitter.com/UjP9wv2cbz

— Potter Park Zoo (@potterparkzoo) July 19, 2022

The zoo did release footage of the babies with their mom. The Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, R.I., gave birth to Mother Thistle in 2019. Barry was born in 2017 at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo.

Animal care supervisor Pat Fountain, stated, “This successful binturong breeding is incredible for the species. I’m excited for Potter Park Zoo, our community, and the species as a whole,” added, “The zookeepers worked hard to make this possible.”

Binturongs often called bearcats, are rare viverrids.

Southern Asian binturongs live in India, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines. They have eccentric personalities and smell like popcorn.

Poaching and habitat loss threaten binturongs. IUCN lists it as “vulnerable” (IUCN).

AB Conservation, a binturong-focused NGO, outlines the animal’s struggles.

The organisation added, “[The binturong] is mainly threatened by deforestation and illegal wildlife trade, as it can be sold as a pet or used for its fur and meat.”

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