We are pleased to announce the arrival of a new member of our family. He is a 10 month old Kinkajou. He does not yet have a name because we are still searching for someone to sponsor him and his sponsor will have the honor of choosing his name. We received this kinkajou to be a part of our behavioral research and offsite educational programs. We believe he will be the perfect addition to our program because he loves to show off for people. His favorite activities involve going for walks, throwing food, hanging from his tail, and snuggling under blankets for a long nap.
Kinkajous are native to tropical forests of Central and South America and are related to the raccoon. They spend most of their time in trees using their tail and feet to maneuver around. They can turn their feet backwards to better aid them in climbing and running in the tree canopies. They also have a prehensile, or gripping, tail that functions almost as another arm, allowing them to balance, hang from and grip things.
Kinkajous are nocturnal omnivores who feed primarily on fruit, but have occasionally been known to eat insects and eggs as well. These “Honey Bears”, as they are sometimes referred to, also raid bee hives. They have a six inch long tongue that they use to slurp up the honey. They weigh 3-7lbs and live in vocal, social groups. Females have on average one baby in the spring or summer. The baby is born with its eyes closed, but by the end of the second month can see and hang from its tail. Kinkajous can live on average 20-25 years in captivity and have been known to live for up to 40 years.
Kinkajous have a wide variety of vocal noises which range from a soft chirp to a bark or loud shriek. Because of their shrill feeding calls they have earned the nickname of “la llorona” which translates to “the crying woman” in Spanish.