A creature you've probably never heard of was just born at Drusillas Park, a wildlife park in the United Kingdom. According to the BBC, a baby binturong is the first of its kind born at the park.
The rare species — which "is a mammal from the viverridae family, which includes civets and fossas," per the BBC — is native to rainforests in Southeast Asia and is listed as vulnerable. It's also known as a bearcat, but it's neither cat nor bear.
@drusillaspark We've welcome the first ever baby binturong in our 100 year history 🖤 #binturong #binlet ♬ Bundle of Joy (From "Inside Out") - Piano Version - Clavier & your movie soundtrack
The female binturong born at Drusillas Park was named Boots by the zookeepers and was born to Niffler and Dora, a resident couple at the park. Dora came from Germany and arrived in April.
A zoo spokesperson told the BBC that Boots' arrival is a "rare and significant success for the European breeding programme for binturongs."
She is settling in nicely. Head keeper Gemma Romanis said, "Boots is already capturing hearts on the keeping team, with her sleepy squeaks and sweet personality."
She added that Dora is a wonderful mother to the binlet, which is the term for baby binturongs.
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Efforts like this have paid off at other zoos in the United Kingdom, too. For example, Chester Zoo's breeding program saw success when a critically endangered eastern black rhino was born in 2023.
Other conservation projects are seeing success in the U.K. as well, including one in Northumberland. In July 2023, four Eurasian beavers were reintroduced to the area. In one year, a baby was born.
These four beavers were also hard at work creating mudscapes, pools, and ponds. They transformed the wetland so much that it enticed Daubenton's bats, gray herons, and kingfishers to move in.
The Northumberland success story is a prime example of why biodiversity is vital. According to The Royal Society, biodiversity is essential for a healthy ecosystem, which is vital for the food we eat and the air we breathe.
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These conservation efforts require a significant amount of work and help, including donations, to make them happen.
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