2 National Zoo staff members taken to hospital after being bitten by binturong
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Two staff Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute In D.C., they were hospitalized after being bitten by a binturong commonly nicknamed the “bear cat.”
The National Zoo tells DC News Now that staff members interacting with Lola, the zoo’s 12-year-old female binturong, were bitten Friday morning.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on December 12, as an employee was completing routine training with Lola. The zoo said the member took Lola’s weight when she bit the employee and did not immediately let go.
That’s when another staff member stepped in to help, but while taking him to a separate enclosure he too was bitten by the binturong.
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The incident took place in a non-public area of the Big Cats exhibit.
While both personnel were taken to hospital and treated as a precaution, it was learned that their health conditions were good.
What are Binturongs?
Binturongs are about the size of a small dog, covered in fluffy black fur. Its body is about 2-3 feet long and its tail is the same length.
The animals earned the nickname “bear cat” because of their stocky bodies. It has large brown eyes and sly whiskers that resemble a cat’s appearance.
Despite their nickname, binturongs are neither bears nor cats.
Binturongs are native to the tropical forests of Asia and are considered vulnerable due to threats of habitat loss, according to the National Zoo.
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