Pana‘ewa Zoo new arrival named by public

Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Garden’s latest arrival now has a new name.

After narrowing it down to four names last week, a Facebook post on the Friends for Pana‘ewa Zoo announced the 11-month-old male binturong, recently arrived from the Belgrade Zoo in Serbia, was named Chandler Bingturong, adding the binturong is already “stealing hearts with his curious and quirky charm.”

Also known as an Asian bearcat, the animal currently resides behind the scenes at the zoo while staff do introductions with its female binturong, Keoki-Ann, and work on renovating their habitat with a new current habitat has a new shift area, some new platforms and various climbing structures.

“He will soon be ready to explore the binturong habitat on exhibit once renovations are completed,” The Facebook post read.

Classified as carnivores because of their teeth arrangement, Mindy Runnells, Pana’ewa Recreational Complex Administrator, said binturongs are omnivores. Binturongs are the only carnivores with a prehensile tail and “they love to climb.”

“They will eat meat but love fruit,” Runnells said. “This guy has been a little shy after arrival burn out to be expected, a very long trip here, new keepers, a new language.”

The zoo has housed binturongs in the past. Runnells said their older female died about a year ago, and their current female is about middle-aged.

“so we decided to bring this young male in,” Runnells explained.