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What's a Bearcat?


 

 

The Binturong (Arctictis binturong), also known as the Asian Bearcat, the Palawan Bearcat, or simply the Bearcat, is a species of the family Viverridae, which includes the civets and genets. It is neither a bear nor a cat, and the real meaning of the original name is lost, as the local language that gave it is extinct. Its natural habitat is in trees of forest canopy in rainforest of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Palawan Island.It is nocturnal and sleeps on branches. It eats primarily fruit, but also has been known to eat eggs, shoots, leaves and small animals, such as rodents or birds. Deforestation has greatly reduced its numbers. When cornered, the Binturong can be vicious. The Binturong can make chuckling sounds when it seems to be happy and utter a high-pitched wail if annoyed. The Binturong can live over 20 years in captivity; one is recorded to have lived almost 26 years.

Physical

Its bushy tail is fully prehensile, and acts as a fifth hand. Being burly and omnivorous, the Binturong is sometimes compared to a bear, but is closer in size to a smallish dog. Its average length ranges 60–96 cm (24–38 in), and average weight ranges between 9-14 kg (20–31 lb), although some exceptional individuals have been known to weigh 22 kg (50 lb) or more. The tail is nearly as long as the body with size ranging from 55–90 cm (22–36 in). The ears are small and rounded, and it has small eyes. It has coarse and thick black fur.

Reproduction

The estrus period of the Binturong is 81 days, with a gestation of 91 days. The Binturong is one of approximately 100 species of mammal believed by many husbandry experts to be capable of embryonic diapause, or delayed implantation, which allows the female of the species to time parturition to coincide with favorable environmental conditions. Typical birthing is of two offspring, but up to six may occur.

Behavior

The Binturong climbs trees and leaps from branch to branch, using its tail and claws to cling while searching for food. It can rotate its hind legs backwards so that its claws still have a grip when climbing down a tree head first. The Binturong also uses its tail to communicate, through the scent gland located under it. The scent of Binturong musk is often compared to that of warm popcorn and cornbread. The Binturong brushes its tail against trees and howls to announce its presence to other Binturongs.The Orang Asli of Malaysia keep Binturong as pets.

Subspecies

Six subspecies are recognized (A. b. albifrons, A. b. binturong, A. b. kerkhoveni, A. b. memglaensis, A. b. penicillatus, and A. b. whitei). The Palawan Binturong (A. b. whitei) of the Philippines is vulnerable due to habitat destruction and poaching for its medicinal uses, its fur and its demand in the pet trade. 

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Demant departs CBC
Make no mistake, Tim Demant looks back fondly on his decade-long posting as athletic director and men’s volleyball coach at Columbia Bible College. But listening to Demant describe his new gig at Goshen College in Indiana, it quickly becomes clear that the 36-year-old feels like he’s died and gone to athletic director heaven.

Bearcats Announce New Basketball Coach
The Columbia Bearcats athletics department is pleased to announce that Jay Duke has signed on to become the Head Coach of the Bearcats Women’s Basketball program.

Bearcats Year End Highlight Video
Enter the article and click on the link to watch a highlight video for 2007-2008 of the Columbia Bearcats Athletics teams.

Athletics Awards Night
The Columbia athletics department hosted it's annual Awards Night banquet last Friday. Student-athletes from each team were recognized in a variety of categories.

Bearcats Women's Volleyball ID Camp
The Bearcats women's volleyball program will be holding a player identification camp on March 21st and 22nd for all players, aged 16 and over. Click on more for further information.

Bearcats Men's Basketball ID Camp
The Columbia Bearcats men's basketball team will be holding a player identification camp on Saturday, March 29 @ 1:30pm at Columbia Place. For more information please contact: athletics@columbiabc.edu

Bearcats Finish 4th
The Columbia Bible College Bearcats men’s basketball team may not have matched last year’s bronze medal finish at provincials, but the team is not necessarily complaining. The Bearcats finished fourth in the B.C. Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA) provincial championships held in Prince George, after losing the bronze medal game to Victoria’s Camosun College Chargers 95-81 on Saturday.

'Cats Ballers Go North
The Columbia Bearcats men's basketball is off to Prince George for the BCCAA Championships. They will face the Malaspina Mariners on Thursday evening in their first game.

Bearcats Win Bronze at Provincials
Despite being the sixth and final seed heading into the BC Colleges Provincial Championships in Nanaimo this past weekend, the Columbia Bearcats women’s volleyball team returned home with a Bronze medal after defeating their cross-town rivals from UCFV 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21) to win the bronze.

Bearcats to Play for Bronze
The women's volleyball team lost to a powerful UBCO Lakers squad in the semi-finals of the BCCAA Provincial Championships on Friday. The Bearcats will now face the loser of the match between UCFV and Malaspina.

'Cats Win in Historic Upset
The 6th seeded Bearcats women's volleyball team have defeated the 3rd seeded Capilano College Blues in the opening game of the BCCAA 2008 Provincial Championships in Nanaimo.

Bearcats Earn All-Star Honors
Two Bearcat volleyball players were honored by the BCCAA as league All-Stars. Cheyla Reader was voted to the 1st All-Star Team by BCCAA head coaches. Men's team standout Chad Friesen was voted to the 2nd All-Star Team.

Bearcats Highlight Video
Enter the article and click on the link to watch a highlight video for Fall 2007 of the Columbia Bearcats Athletics teams.