This is the terrifying moment a rampaging giant bearcat or binturong raided a mini market in Indonesia in search of food.

The endangered animal, which was initially mistaken for a huge weasel, first spotted by a shop assistant when the binturong entered through the front door, then ran backwards and trapped in the bathroom.

Footage filmed at Ciqi Mart, Padangpanjang city, West Sumatra province on June 6, shows the rescue of the bearcat by a team of firefighters.

The animal rescuers, equipped with snares and sacks, found the binturong hiding in a bathroom perched on top of the water heater.

The officers tried to catch it with a snare, but it made the binturong climb out of the bathroom and run into the kitchen, before eventually it was caught and later released into the wild.

"The animal entered the mini market at night after being seen on the street by residents. It's thought to have come from the hills opposite the shop," the shop assistant said.

This is the terrifying moment a rampaging giant bearcat or binturong raided a mini market in Indonesia in search of food.

The wild animal, which was initially mistaken for a huge weasel, first spotted by a shop assistant when the binturong entered through the front door, then ran backwards and trapped in the bathroom.

"The animal entered the mini market at night after being seen on the street by residents. It's thought to have come from the hills opposite the shop," the shop assistant said.

The animal rescue team of firefighters arrived after being asked for help with evacuation by a worried shop assistant.

Officers equipped with snares and sacks prepared to evacuate but were shocked by the act of binturong who turned off the bathroom light.

When peeked into the bathroom, the binturong was perched on top of the water heater.

The officers tried to catch it with a snare, but it made the binturong come out of the bathroom to mess with the kitchen.

Officers tried to trap binturong several times, who always escaped and ran to the warehouse.

Binturong was finally caught and taken out of the mini market.

The head of the Padangpanjang City Fire Department, Dt. Jhon Eriko, said the caught binturong was brought to the office to be handed over to the Natural Resources and Conservation Center (BKSDA).

"We secured Binturong at the office until morning, then handed it over to the BKSDA to be released back into its habitat because it is a protected animal," Dt. Jhon added.

The binturong is threatened by habitat loss due to logging and agribusiness, especially the oil palm industry. It is also hunted for bushmeat, traditional medicine, and the pet trade. A local coffee, made from beans that pass through a binturong’s digestive system, is also valued.

Footage filmed at Ciqi Mart, Padangpanjang city, West Sumatra province on June 6, 2021.