The binturong is the rainforest mammal famous for smelling like buttered popcorn when threatened. This unusual scent comes from 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, a chemical also found in cooked popcorn and fragrant rice.
Binturongs are arboreal mammals native to forests of South and Southeast Asia. They belong to the viverrid family, which includes civets and genets, although their bear-like appearance has earned them the nickname bearcat. They are neither bears nor cats.
A binturong’s long, muscular tail can act as a fifth limb, helping it grip branches while climbing. Its diet includes fruit, leaves, small animals, and eggs, and it is an important seed disperser. The popcorn-like odor is produced by scent glands near the anus and is used in communication and territory marking.
Binturongs are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal wildlife trade. Their scientific name is Arctictis binturong, and they are the only living species in their genus.