Binturong 'Bearcat' Attacks and Bites Keepers at the National Zoo, Sending 2 to the Hospital By Rachel Raposas

A binturong bit two National Zoo employees on Dec. 12, sending both to the hospital.

The Washington D.C. zoo’s binturong Lola — a dog-sized mammal known as a bearcat that is native to Southeast Asia — was undergoing a routine weight check and training session with a staff member when the incident occurred on Dec. 12. The check took place in an area of the zoo that is closed to the public. Around 10 a.m. local time, the binturong bit the employee and “did not readily let go,” the National Zoo shared in a statement about the “safety incident.”

The staff member sustained “non-life-threatening injuries” during the attack. Another animal care specialist at the zoo stepped in to help. They removed Lola from the area and placed her in a separate enclosure. This second animal care staff member was bitten while moving the bearcat, the zoo stated. Both employees were sent to the hospital “out of an abundance of caution” to have their injuries treated.

According to the National Zoo’s webpage on its binturongs, Lola “can be a bit standoffish and makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, where her boundaries lie. The trick is to stay cool and give her some space.”

Binturongs look like “mask-less raccoons with tufty whiskers and eyebrows,” with shaggy, dark fur and muscular bodies, per the National Zoo. Though they’re commonly called bearcats, binturongs are neither bears nor cats. The animals belong to the family Viverridae, which includes civets and fossas.

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The mammal generally measures 2-3 feet in length, has a tail roughly equal in length, and weighs 24-79 pounds; females are usually larger. They typically live 16-18 years in the wild and up to 25 years in human care.

Binturongs are omnivores with sharp teeth and claws that help them eat meat, but they also eat fruits and berries, according to the National Zoo. When they do opt for meat, they choose small animals — like birds, rodents, fish, and insects — or animals that other predators have already killed.

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In addition to Lola, the National Zoo is also home to another binturong, 11-year-old Hank, who’s often curious about new scents and sights. Lola and Hank have never reproduced despite living together for years.