Abstract
The binturong is a medium size carnivore belonging to the Viverrid family that lives in dense forests of South-East Asia. In addition to the protection of this vulnerable species in its natural habitat (in situ), conservation breeding efforts (ex situ) aim at maintaining a good genetic diversity while increasing the number of individuals to reinforce wild populations. Both approaches require a solid understanding of binturong's basic biology. However, there is still a lack of precise information about reproduction. The objective of this brief research report was to analyze testicular sizes and semen characteristics at different times of the year to better understand the reproductive physiology and inform future conservation efforts. A secondary objective was to describe sperm cryotolerance for the first time in that species. Examinations of testes and semen collections were conducted on two adult males. While testicular measurements were relatively constant across multiple examinations, semen characteristics (volume, viability, sperm concentrations, sperm motility) varied between samples. However, incidence of sperm morphological abnormalities was consistently high. Sperm cryotolerance appeared to be poor but further studies are warranted. The present dataset will be useful for future research on binturong reproduction and for the development of assisted reproductive techniques and biobanking of germplasms in that species.
Highlights
The binturong is a medium size carnivore belonging to the Viverrid family, living in dense forests of South-East Asia [1, 2]
Values were down to zero 30 min after thawing. This is the first report about testicular measurements and evaluations of semen characteristics in binturongs based on repeated observations in the same individuals
The absence of seasonal effect was consistent with the fact that binturongs can reproduce all year round [1]
Summary
The binturong is a medium size carnivore belonging to the Viverrid family, living in dense forests of South-East Asia [1, 2]. In addition to in situ conservation, ex situ efforts in zoos and breeding centers are crucial to protect species for the long term [6, 7]. Both approaches require a solid understanding of binturong’s basic biology to design adapted conservation strategies. Knowledge about binturong physiology is still limited to few studies [9, 10]. There is still a lack of precise information about reproduction, which limits subsequent
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