The Curious Reason Binturongs Smell Like Popcorn

Binturongs live in lush, dense forests in Southeast Asia. These bearcat-like animals are surrounded by the sights and smells of the forest, such as fragrant flowers, trees, and plants, and maybe even damp soil. A scent that may not be expected in this region is that which comes from a movie theater. But where binturongs live, a buttery smell of popcorn exists.

Over the years, those who came into contact with binturongs could not pinpoint why the creatures smell like they do. But, further research eventually revealed the curious reason binturongs smell like popcorn, leaving scientists perplexed by their findings.

Why Binturongs Smell Like Freshly Buttered Popcorn

Binturongs are a mammal often described as a cross between a cat and a bear. Consequently, not only are the animals known as binturongs but also as bearcats. However, bearcats are neither bears nor cats, but they do belong to the Viverridae family, a group of small to medium-sized cat-like mammals that also includes civets.

What makes the binturongs stand out from the rest of the family it belongs to is its ability to mark its territory with a distinct odor. The odor, that of freshly popped buttered popcorn, comes from its urine. Therefore, when binturongs mark, the feeling of being in a movie theater comes back to those who smell it.

It was not until a 2016 study was published in The Science of Nature that it was discovered that the same compound involved in creating the buttery popcorn smell is the same one expelled in the urine of the binturong. The chemical 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) is what is responsible for the smell. The reason it can be smelled in areas where binturongs live has to do with both the application and the purpose of the urine.

Binturongs will squat when they urinate. By doing this, they coat their tails and feet in the urine. This allows the binturongs to mark where they have been without having to stop and urinate every few feet. The marking on trees, bushes, and the like is done to both attract mates and to keep other binturongs from entering established territory.

How Binturongs Create The Buttery Popcorn Smell Is Mind Boggling

In theory, there is no conceivable way that binturongs should be able to create the buttery popcorn smell. This is because, according to the study, there is no heat being emitted at the high levels required to turn the compound 2-AP into the signature movie theater smell so many are familiar with. According to Christine Drea, lead study author and Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke, this led to questions regarding how the binturong was capable of creating this very distinct smell.

“If you were to make this compound, you would have to use temperatures above what most animals can achieve physiologically,” Drea explains in a Duke University press release. “How does this animal make a cooking smell, but without cooking?”

According to scientists, two hypotheses suggest why binturong urine has a buttery, popcorn-like smell. The first has to do with a particular food that the binturong eats that causes the urine to smell. But, as good a theory as this is, there has yet to be a source of food that has been identified that helps to create the buttery popcorn smell.

The other hypothesis, and the one believed to be the most likely reason for binturongs having the capability to create a specific smell, involves the urine coming into contact with bacteria either in the binturong’s gut or on its skin. The bacteria reacting with the urine have yet to be identified. However, given that bacteria are known to create other smells in animals, it is not far-fetched to believe the same is happening with the binturongs.

Bacteria Create Signature Scents In Other Animals

What is interesting about bacteria believed to cause the buttery popcorn smell to be emitted from binturongs is that bacteria also cause a corn chip smell in dog feet. Many dog owners have experienced a whiff of a corn chip or Fritos smell when cuddling their dog. This smell is the result of Proteus bacteria being present in the paws. While the jury is still out on whether this is a pleasant smell, in many cases, the bacteria on the paws or within the toe area are not harmful to dogs.

The corn chip smell occurs when moisture, bacteria, and yeast come in contact with one another on dogs’ feet. The bacteria and yeast are always present on paws. The only time there is a need to worry is if there is an abundance of either, which can lead to an infection. This infection is indicated by a rotten cheese smell and requires veterinary assistance to remedy.

How Other Animals Use Scent From Urine To Communicate

Binturongs may have the most unique smell to their urine, but they are not the only animals that communicate via this method. Many animals use their urine to communicate for various reasons. The reason this is so successful is because of the olfactory sense these animals have developed that allows them to know precisely what is meant by the marking left.

Some animals that communicate with others by leaving their scent in the wild include:

By having strong olfactory senses, animals can tell a lot about one another even if they are not physically in the same location. This means animals can be warned of danger, when it is time to mate, and when a potential mate is no longer available, all things that help keep animals alive in the wild.