Earlier this year, the Cincinnati Zoo welcomed a bearcat, or Binturong, back to its collection for the first time in four years. And rightly so, the University of Cincinnati's mascot is none other than this unusual furry friend.

The baby bearcat is pictured here at 3 months old.

“It has been more than four years since the Zoo has had a bearcat
here and we are excited to see its return,” said Thane Maynard,
executive director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. “If
there’s one zoo in this country that should have a bearcat in its
collection, it’s the Cincinnati Zoo. We hope that the students and
staff at the University of Cincinnati and the entire Cincinnati
community visit the newest addition to our animal family.

"We are back in the Bearcat business," Maynard quipped.

“The University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical
Garden have a long and rich history of collaboration. Our mutual
academic interests, shared goals and inquisitive minds find fertile
ground in the Uptown community. Many of our faculty conduct research at
the Zoo and

many of the
Zoo’s staff teach part time at UC. Our relationship goes beyond just
that of being neighbors,” said UC President Nancy L. Zimpher.

“The entire UC community — students, faculty, staff and Uptown
neighbors — is delighted to have a Bearcat once again at the Cincinnati
Zoo. We look forward to continuing our fantastic working relationship
and to seeing the new Bearcat baby on display.”

Also among those in attendance representing UC was Student Body Vice President Jared Brandyberry.

A bearcat is neither a cat nor a bear; it is more like a civet.
Often referred to by their proper name, a binturong, bearcats are
nocturnal animals from the dense forests of Southeast Asia.  They have
long, coarse fur which is longer on the tail than on the body and the
hairs are black and often with gray, buff tips. Their long tails allow
them to move from tree to tree to find food. Their tail acts as a third
hand for the bearcat.

“Alice” the former Zoo bearcat, cheered for the University of
Cincinnati from the mid-'80s to late '90s. Alice lived at the
Cincinnati Zoo and was a regular attraction at UC's home football and
basketball games for nearly 13 years. In her time at the Cincinnati
Zoo, Alice was somewhat of a star herself. She met a number of
celebrities including David Letterman, Johnny Carson, Prince Charles
and Newt Gingrich.

The 3-month-old female bearcat still needs a name. The public can
enter the Zoo’s “Name the Baby Bearcat” contest and submit a name today
by logging on to the Zoo’s Web site at www.cincinnatizoo.org. Contest ends April 30 and the winning name will be announced Friday, May 9.

The baby bearcat was born January 17, 2008, and will be on display
for the public in the Zoo’s nursery beginning today and throughout the
Zoo Babies celebration, which runs May 10–25.  Then, Zoo guests can see
the bearcat this summer in the Zoo’s world-renowned Great American
Wings of Wonder Bird Show. The Cincinnati Zoo and UC are also
discussing plans for the baby bearcat to make a guest appearance at
future events on UC’s campus.

To help celebrate the return of the bearcat, the Cincinnati Zoo is
offering half-price Zoo admission to all University of Cincinnati
students, faculty and staff with a valid UC ID now through May 25.