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Exotic "Bear Cats" Make Truly Rare Pets
If you're looking for a unique, dog-size pet, the exotic Binturong may be for you, says Pam Stephens, Auburn, Wash., who's one of the foremost authorities on the animals in North America.
"They make wonderful, intelligent pets," says Stephens, who has one male and one female Binturong. "Few U.S. zoos have Binturo
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Exotic "Bear Cats" Make Truly Rare Pets AG WORLD Ag World 22-4-23 If you're looking for a unique, dog-size pet, the exotic Binturong may be for you, says Pam Stephens, Auburn, Wash., who's one of the foremost authorities on the animals in North America.
"They make wonderful, intelligent pets," says Stephens, who has one male and one female Binturong. "Few U.S. zoos have Binturongs. It's extremely hard to obtain a pair because the females are very rare."
Binturongs, often known as "bear cats", are a member of the weasel family. They are native to southeast Asia where they live in dense forests.
Binturongs are normally black with a gray speckling of fur on top of their head. They have 4-in. long hair with no undercoat. The head and body measure 2 to 2 1/2 ft. long, and in captivity they weigh 30 to 60 lbs. Binturongs have the nose, hair, and rounded ears of a bear and they stand on their hind legs like a bear. However, their eyes, long whiskers, and pointed ear tuffs are like those of a cat. "They make cat-like sounds, and during mating season they make a throaty purring sound that's beautiful to hear," says Stephens.
The Binturong is mainly a tree dweller.
They can walk upside down, hanging from branches, and can move with great speed and agility when they have to.
Binturongs are mature at age 3. Breeding in captivity can occur year around, but peaks between January and March and again in the fall.
"Binturongs are affectionate and follow their owners around like dogs," says Stephens. "They love to have their owners feed them bananas and other favorite foods by hand. They will sniff people, and especially their hair, for as long as you'll let them. They'll crawl all over you if you sit still. The female is the boss. You can't keep males and females together or the males will kill the babies."
Baby females sell for $2,500; males for $1,800 to $2,000. Both males and females are worth more if they're hand raised.
Stephens also has six baby Coatimundi's for sale.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Pam Stephens, 18230 SE 317th St., Auburn, Wash. 98092 (ph 800 227-8941 or 253 631-1231).
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