In the humid, dense rainforests of Southeast Asia lives a mammal whose appearance alone can be perplexing. Found across Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, it has a large, stocky body reminiscent of a bear and a face that resembles a cat, yet it is neither.
This animal is the binturong, often nicknamed the “bearcat.” But its strangeness goes well beyond its physical form. The binturong possesses a trait that seems almost implausible: its body emits a scent strikingly similar to freshly buttered popcorn.
Why Binturong Smells Like Popcorn
The distinctive popcorn-like aroma associated with binturongs comes from a chemical compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP). This compound is widely known as a key contributor to the aroma of popcorn, toasted bread, and cooked rice.
In binturongs, 2-AP is found in their urine, making them one of the most unusual examples of chemical communication among mammals.
Binturongs use urine to mark territory and signal their presence to other individuals. When urinating, they adopt a squatting posture that causes urine to coat their feet and tail.
As they move along tree branches, these urine-soaked body parts are dragged across surfaces, leaving scent trails that spread widely through the forest canopy.
Laboratory analyses have identified at least 29 chemical compounds in binturong urine. However, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline is the only compound consistently present in every sample.
Notably, its concentration is higher in males, suggesting a role in reproductive communication, including attracting mates and signaling hormonal status.
At first, the presence of 2-AP in a warm-blooded animal puzzled scientists, as the compound typically forms at high temperatures far above those of mammalian bodies.
The most plausible explanation is that the scent arises from interactions between urine and bacteria or microorganisms living on the binturong’s skin, fur, and digestive tract, a biological process that produces the aroma without any form of “cooking.”
A Bear-Sized Body with Monkey-Level Skills
Beyond its unusual scent, the binturong possesses a set of physical traits that make it highly adapted to life in the trees. Its body is covered in coarse black fur with silvery tips, giving it a shaggy yet powerful appearance.
The face is framed by long whiskers and large eyes, while the ears are short and adorned with fine tufts.
Its most striking feature is its prehensile tail, a versatile tool that functions like a fifth limb. With this tail, the binturong can grip branches, support its body weight, and even hang while foraging. It is one of the very few carnivorous mammals in the world with a fully prehensile tail.
Binturongs are nocturnal and largely solitary. They spend the daytime resting on tree branches, becoming active at night to move and search for food. Although their daytime vision is relatively poor, a keen sense of smell serves as their primary aid for navigation and communication.
A Fruit Fan with a Big Forest Job
Despite belonging to the order Carnivora, the binturong is an omnivore with a strong preference for fruit. Figs are a particular favorite, though it also consumes small animals, eggs, insects, and other plant matter.
This diet makes the binturong an effective seed disperser, playing an important role in forest regeneration.
However, this ecological role is increasingly threatened by human activity. Deforestation, agricultural expansion, hunting, and the illegal wildlife trade have led to population declines across much of its range in Asia.
The binturong is currently classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Additional threats include vehicle collisions when individuals descend to the ground to move between habitats.
