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Kinkajous
This is Wadulisi Yona (which means roughly Honey Bear in Cherokee), but we call him Kabuki, Kinkabrat or Kinkamonster, depending on just how bratty he's being that day. After fostering kinkajous before, we decided we really wanted to keep one here to help in our educational programs.
Read more below the pictures
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Kinkajous are also known as "Honey Bears" because of their great fondness for all things sweet! Their other name is "Night Walker", because they are typically seen at night. While in some respects they resemble a monkey, they are actually related to the raccoons in this country. They are the only member of the family procyonid with a completely prehensile tail.
Kinkajous are now listed as "protected", although they have not yet been put on the endangered species list, their numbers are dwindling due to the loss of their natural habitat. As a key-stone species, they are incredibly important to our world. Without them, a whole part of the ecosystem would disappear.
Unless you have a lot of experience with similar species, and are willing to spend months and months with them hanging on you (literally) 24/7, kinkajous typically do not make great pets. And though they are fairly small for a procyonid, can be quite dangerous.
Puck, was our foster kinkajous. He is now called Bonkers, educating many children with another facility and doing quite well.
In The Wild
Classification: |
Procyonidae, Potos Flavus |
Native Region: |
The canopy of the South American Rain Forest |
Diet: |
Omnivores, though primarily a frugivore, feeding mostly on fruit and nectar, though they do eat some small mammals and insects |
Behavior: |
Nocturnal. |
Social Structure: |
Very social. |
Interesting Facts: |
Kinkajous are responsible for much of the pollination of certain trees and flowers in the rain forest. They go from flower to flower depositing pollen that sticks to their fur from other flowers. Kinkajous have a 7" tongue, which helps them to get deep into tropical flowers to get the nectar out. In the wild, they live mainly in the canopy, rarely ever touching the ground. |