The tail is also used as a brake when running head first down a tree, like a squirrel. When resting in a tree, it will lie on its stomach with its feet dangling, but its tail will have a firm hold, protecting it from falling. The curved claws are used for holding on to uneven surfaces on the trees. The well-developed pads on the bottom of the paws help it run on the branches of trees. But on the ground, binturongs walk flat-footed like bears.
Binturongs are also very good swimmers and are very playful.
They have been known to leap 5 feet into the air, and kill animals by leaping on them, perform somersaults and ocassionly catch fish. The binturong can be found in the tropical and sub-tropical forests of Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Palaway Island, Burma, Indochina, Sumatra, Bangka, Java, Borneo, and possibly Nepal. The binturong is rare in its current range due to habitat destruction. Binturongs are nocturnal animals and they usually hunt at this time. Their diet consists of both plant and animal matter.