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Meet Sheba, the newest animal arrival at the Erie Zoo. What is a binturong?

By USA Today via Reuters Connect

June 5, 2025

The Erie Zoo has a new furry tenant.

On June 3, the zoo announced on social media that they have welcomed a new binturong, or bearcat, to the zoo. The almost 8-year-old bearcat is named Sheba.

Where did the new binturong come from?

The Erie Zoo said in a Facebook post that its newest tenant arrived on loan from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Being on loan is a typical process for how zoos exchange animals, said Melissa “Roo” Kojancie, president and CEO of Erie Zoo.

“We were exploring bringing a new species to the zoo, something that we’ve never had before,” Kojancie told the Erie Times-News. “Binturongs are such unique animals that we thought a binturong would make a fantastic addition to the zoo family.”

Where is the binturong located at the Erie Zoo?

Sheba will be in a specially designed habitat located at the front of the zoo, attached to the front right-hand side of the main building. The habitat gives the binturong access to an outdoor viewing area and a private behind-the-scenes space.

This means that visitors might not always catch Sheba when stopping at her exhibit, as she can choose when she wants to make an appearance.

The zoo posted on social media that Sheba is a bit shy as she is adjusting to her new home.

Staff at the zoo are giving the binturong space and flexibility to explore her habitat at a comfortable pace to get adjusted.

What to know about binturongs before you visit the Erie Zoo

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute describes a binturong as “a mask-less raccoon with tufty whiskers and eyebrows.”

A binturong can weigh up to 79 pounds and reach up to 3 feet in size. They have shaggy and dark brown fur that shades to black on their snouts, limbs and tails.

Like humans and bears, a binturong walks with flat feet.

A wild binturong can live up to 18 years, but one in captivity like Sheba can live up to 25 years.

A binturong is native to tropical forests in India, Nepal, China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other countries.

“We’re excited to bring her in,” Kojancie said. “To bring in a new species is truly exciting, and we can’t wait for the community to come and be able to see how neat Sheba is and the story that this species tells.”

Reporting by Nicholas Sorensen, Erie Times-News / Erie Times-News

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CATEGORIES: ANIMALS
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