Recent photographic records of Otter Civet Cynogale bennettii from Brunei, Borneo

Abstract

Otter Civet Cynogale bennettii is an endangered semi-aquatic viverrid found in the Thai-Malay Peninsula and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The habitat requirements and distribution of this elusive, infrequently observed and apparently rare species remain largely unknown, hindering conservation planning. Here we report several camera-trap records, dating from 2018 and 2020, of the enigmatic Otter Civet from three locations in Brunei Darussalam. One camera-trap recorded an adult and an offspring together. These photographic records contribute to our knowledge of the current distribution of Otter Civet in Brunei and add records to its presence in lowland dipterocarp forests on Borneo. Protection of wetland habitats as well as lowland dipterocarp forests is important for this species.