Elusive Binturong and Small clawed otter

Elusive Binturong and Small clawed otter

News: Wildlife enthusiasts in Assam were in for a pleasant surprise recently as two species new to the region were identified in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve – the binturong (Arctictis binturong) and small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus).

About elusive binturong
 A mammal native to south and southeast Asia, the binturong (also known as bearcat) is not easily found due to its nocturnal and arboreal habits. 
 It is also uncommon in much of its range; in India it is known to have a distribution exclusive to the Northeast. It has been assessed as a vulnerable species by The International Union for Conservation of Nature because of its declining population.

About small-clawed otter
 The small-clawed otter, the smallest otter species in the world, has a wide distribution range, extending through India in South Asia to eastwards in Southeast Asia and 
southern China.
 In India it is found mostly in the protected areas of West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh and in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and some parts of Kerala in the Western Ghats region. 
 The species is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. It is also classified as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List and faces threat due to habitat 
destruction, poaching for pelt and reduction in prey.