Bearcat goes missing from UK zoo – only to walk back in 72 hours later

6 days ago .
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A missing binturong, also known as a bearcat, decided to walk back into its zoo after an intense 72-hour search effort.

Suki made its way back to The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in Rochester, Kent, overnight of its own accord.

The animal was last seen in the Bell Wood area of St Mary Hoo on Thursday. Staff realised Suki was not in her enclosure during Friday morning checks.

The conservation park appealed for help in the search. It asked people to ‘not approach, corner or attempt to catch her’ as she will likely be scared.

It added: ‘Our keepers are naturally distraught and her welfare is our number one priority.’

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The female binturong called Suki from The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in St Mary Hoo, Kent. // An intense 72-hour search for a rare missing animal has come to an end- after it walked back into the zoo on its own accord. Locals have been frantically searching for a female binturong called Suki since she escaped from The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in St Mary Hoo, Kent, on Friday (September 26). It is believed that the lost animal was in the Bell Wood area with staff spending hours searching supported by police and even using thermal drones. The search had remained unsuccessful until around 8:50 this morning when Suki allegedly wandered back onto the premises. Photo released 29/09/2025
The missing bearcat, Suki, walked back into its zoo (Picture: Fenn Bell Conservation Project)
Suki returning to the feeding station at The Fenn Bell Conservation Project. // An intense 72-hour search for a rare missing animal has come to an end- after it walked back into the zoo on its own accord. Locals have been frantically searching for a female binturong called Suki since she escaped from The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in St Mary Hoo, Kent, on Friday (September 26). It is believed that the lost animal was in the Bell Wood area with staff spending hours searching supported by police and even using thermal drones. The search had remained unsuccessful until around 8:50 this morning when Suki allegedly wandered back onto the premises. Photo released 29/09/2025
Suki, the missing binturong, returning to the feeding station (Picture: Fenn Bell Conservation Project)

Staff, police and volunteers were involved in the search combing surrounding woodlands.

The team used drones with thermal imaging and stationed cameras with food nearby. Drones were also used to find an escaped capybara in Shropshire last year.

Suki wandered back into the conservation park at around 8.50am today after 72 hours of unsuccessful search efforts. The bearcat is now being checked by vets.

Connor Gordon, a spokesman for the zoo, said: ‘She’s had a jolly day out really, but we’re incredibly glad she’s back.

‘The entire team is breathing a sigh of relief and the mood is much improved now that she’s home.’

WORDS BYLINE: Dee Lukasik A conservation park is appealing for help after a bearcat managed to escape from its enclosure. Staff at The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in St Mary Hoo discovered a female binturong, called Suki, had gone missing yesterday morning (September 25). A spokesman for the park, Connor Gordon, said she was last seen in the last seen in the Bell Wood area around 8.30am. ???We were doing our morning checks that we do every day, just to make sure all the animals were fine overnight,??? he explained. ???One of the keepers noticed that Suki had breached her enclosure. ???About 10 minutes later, she was spotted on site at the far end adjacent to the woodland, but unfortunately we lost sight of her and she hasn???t been seen since.??? Binturongs, also known as bearcats, are unusual mammals found in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. They are not related to bears or cats but belong to the civet family. Adults can grow to about a metre long, with shaggy black fur and a prehensile tail strong enough to grip branches. Mr Gordon added that searches had been ongoing ever since. ???We???ve spent hours searching with staff, supported by police and search and rescue using a thermal drone,??? he said. ???We???ve set out cameras and are recovering footage now to try and pinpoint her location a little more directly.??? The animal is thought to still be close by. ???She???s not a massively fast animal, but typically spends most of her time up in trees,??? he added. ???We???re highly expecting her not to have gone too far and to still be somewhere in Bell Wood,??? he explained. ???But a small dark animal in a big set of woods isn???t the easiest thing to spot.??? Mr Gordon said members of the public should not try to catch Suki if they see her. ???If they do see her, just give us a call immediately,??? ???Do not approach and just keep an eye on her. ???Although she poses a low risk to people, there is still a chance she could give a bite if cornered or scared.??? Binturongs are nocturnal and are most likely to be active from early evening until the early hours of the morning. They mostly eats fruit and veg. ???She???ll eat small amounts of meat, but she???s not a particularly good hunter,??? the spokesman added. The conservation project has also set out food near cameras in the hope of drawing her out. Local authorities have been informed and a full investigation is under way. ANYONE WHO SPOTS SUKI IS URGED TO CALL 07898 658908. Featuring: A binturong named Suki escaped from her enclosure on Thursday When: 26 Sep 2025 Credit: Cover Images **All usages and enquiries, please contact info@cover-images.com - +44 (0)20 3397 3000**
A female binturong, Suki, breached her enclosure on Friday (Picture: Cover Images)
The female binturong called Suki from The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in St Mary Hoo, Kent. // An intense 72-hour search for a rare missing animal has come to an end- after it walked back into the zoo on its own accord. Locals have been frantically searching for a female binturong called Suki since she escaped from The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in St Mary Hoo, Kent, on Friday (September 26). It is believed that the lost animal was in the Bell Wood area with staff spending hours searching supported by police and even using thermal drones. The search had remained unsuccessful until around 8:50 this morning when Suki allegedly wandered back onto the premises. Photo released 29/09/2025
People were asked not to approach the binturong if they saw it (Picture: Fenn Bell Conservation Project)

Mr Gordon thanked DroneSAR for Lost Dogs UK for flying a thermal drone over the woodland and Superhounds for their tracking dogs.

He added: ‘We also want to thank everyone who shared our posts and helped spread the word.’

Binturongs are rare mammals native to South and Southeast Asia. They have nocturnal tendencies and spend most of their time up in the trees.

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