Rarely seen but often heard, the noisy and nimble kinkajou screeches, hoots and barks sounds from high up in the trees. Let's learn more about these marvelous mammals of the rain forest!
Flower Power
Kinkajous feed on fruit, insects, small mammals and honey. They're important pollinators—as kinkajous go from plant to plant drinking nectar, pollen sticks to their faces and then gets smeared on the next flower.
They Don't Monkey Around
They might fool you into thinking they’re a primate like a monkey, but kinkajous are actually related to raccoons. Kinkajous live in tropical rain forests of Central and South America, but their homes are threatened by pollution and habitat destruction, and sometimes they're captured illegally and sold as pets.
Give a Hoot for Kinkajous
Although kinkajous are not an endangered species, poachers often hunt them for their fur, meat or for the exotic pet trade. To help protect them, stick with a dog or a cat if you're looking for the perfect pet. Kinkajous sure look cute, but make lousy pets since they’re active mainly at night and can be quite destructive inside a home. Also, always support sustainable rainforest products, and help protect wild places around the world by reducing, reusing, and recycling paper whenever possible.
To meet the kinkajou, Miela, we have at Discovery Cove make sure you stop by the Conservation Cabana!
