Earlier this semester, I
volunteered at the Conservator’s Center in Burlington for the trial run of the Binturong
Ambassador Tour starring Cole, the center’s newest baby. Binturongs, or bearcats, are viverrids (related to civets) indigenous to the Southeast Asian rainforests
where they feed on the fruit of the strangler fig. Binturongs are considered a
keystone species because of their role in maintaining the rainforest canopy; as
the fruit passes through the animal’s digestive system, the seed covering
degrades/scarifies and subsequently is able to germinate. For this reason the Conservator's Center has an active breeding program set in place for these special animals.
In addition to meeting the newest
member of CCI’s animal family, visitors also got a private tour of the compound
and got a unique experience seeing some of the big cats target train and treat
feed. The facility is a permanent home for all of its animals--with the
exception of those participating in a breeding program in accordance with other
organizations--and house various species of small cats, lions, tigers,
leopards, wolves, New Guinea singing dogs among others.
The Conservator’s Center is a
privately owned facility open to the public only through scheduled tours so for
those interested in visiting, please call/email first! Internships are also
available for students studying animal husbandry which can be used for
course credits at NC State (BIO 492/ZO 492). See their website for more information: http://www.conservatorscenter.org/index.cfm.
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