The Kinkajous also known as the “honey bear,” is a small mammal native to Central and South American rainforests. Kinkajous have small round ears which give them a unique appearance. These small mammals resemble neotropical monkeys.
Potus flavus, the scientific name for kinkajous, translates literally to “honey drinker” or “drinker of yellow.” The kinkajou’s propensity to consume honey and other sweet foods is alluded to here. Other names for kinkajous include night apes, honey bears, and night walkers.
The lowland jungles that encircle southern Mexico, Central America, South America, and even Brazil and Ecuador are home to these creatures. The kinkajou is an arboreal mammal but not related to primates and mustelids. Belonging to the Procyonidae family, which includes raccoons and olingos, kinkajous.
Kinkajous have sharp teeth, slender bodies, and extensible tongues which make them unique. Their prehensile tail which is so strong that it can be used just like a fifth limb. They love to grasp branches and navigate the treetops with the help of their tail and limbs.
They have a typically golden brown fur that helps them to camouflage in their arboreal habitat. Their fur is short, wooly, and dense with a yellowish tawny appearance in the upper part of the coat. Some have a black stripe running along the middle of their neck.
With an outer coat on top and an undercoat on the bottom to keep water out, these climbing mammals have woolly fur. Their undercoat is gray, and their fur is a golden hue. This reflects light poorly and therefore creates an illusion of spots and dark lines on the coat.
They prefer dense, tropical forests where they can easily find food and shelter among the trees.
Size Information and Life Expectancy of Kinkajous
Kinkajous have a long lifespan of 23-25 years in captivity. However, in the wild, they are at risk of predators and their lifespan is slightly shorter. Their head-to-body length is nearly 82-133 cm (32 to 52”).
Kinkajous possess a long tail of length (39 -57cm) (15-22”). Their tail plays a vital role in balancing their body and maintaining agility. Kinkajous have a robust body with an average weight of nearly 3.1 to 10.1 pounds (1.4 to 4.6 Kg).
Male Vs Female Kinkajou
Males and females have similar physical features and resemble each other. However, males may be slightly larger and more territorial than females. Behavioral differences can also be minimal, as temperament varies more significantly between individuals than between sexes.
About 1.5 years is when males attain maturity, and 2.5 years is when females do. Once every three months or so, the female goes into heat. The only time the kinkajous interact with one another in their natural habitat is during mating. Only one or two cubs will be born to the female kinkajou each year.
Behavior and Temperament of Kinkajous
Kinkajous are primarily nocturnal and highly active at night. They are arboreal, spending most of their time in trees. Kinkajous are nocturnal and spend most of their lives in the trees. They are known for their playful and curious nature, often seen hanging upside down from branches or using their tails to swing from tree to tree.
Kinkajous are generally solitary but can exhibit social behaviors when kept in captivity or during mating. They at times form small groups, one female, her offspring, and one or two adults.To communicate and demarcate their territories, they mark their scents with one another.
Though kinkajous are curious and playful creatures, keeping them as pets is a matter of reconsideration. Kinkajous require high maintenance with an aggressive and unpredictable temperament. You may not find the reason behind their horrific reactions. They need large space to roam and a diet which may be taxing to maintain all the time.
How to Care for Pet Kinkajous?
Kinkajous needs special care in terms of its nutritious diet, comfortable habitat equipped with enrichment activities, and veterinary examinations.
Diet:
Kinkajous requires a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and protein. They enjoy a variety of fruits such as bananas, mangoes, and grapes, supplemented with small amounts of meat or a commercially available insectivore diet.
Kinkajous are primarily frugivorous, meaning they mainly eat fruit. The 36 pointed teeth of the kinkajou give them the appearance of being carnivores. They are omnivores as they eat insects, ants, bird’s eggs, and small vertebrates. Their long tongue helps them to lick fruits and nectar.
Fruits such as figs, papayas, melon, kiwi grapes, pineapples, apples, bananas, mangoes, and pears. However, the banana is its favorite fruit. You should not give them strawberries, citrus foods, avocado, Broccoli, onions, dairy, chocolate, and caffeine. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers can also be given to them.
Cooked chicken, eggs, mealworms, commercial insectivore diets. In captivity, they can also be given commercial raccoon food.
Kinkajous are important building blocks in maintaining the ecosystem as they are great pollinators.
For their food, they need a lot of fresh fruit, but it has to be human-grade to prevent illness. Exotic animals have significantly higher veterinary costs, and the operations are riskier.
Kinkajous Habitat
The enclosure should be escape-proof, with branches, ropes, and platforms to stimulate their natural climbing behavior.
Enclosure
A spacious enclosure with plenty of climbing opportunities is essential.
The minimum dimensions for a single kinkajou should be 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 6 feet high (1.8m x 1.8m x 1.8m). Larger enclosures are preferable.
Large Macaw enclosures can be apt for kinkajous as they need complex vertical space to meet their arboreal requirements. You can create an enclosure with branches, ledges, rope swings, and hanging ropes to mimic their natural habitat. To make your pet more comfortable, you can also provide a hammock, a nest box, or a small plastic container with fleece lining fixed near the upper portion of their enclosures.
Kinkajous thrive in a warm environment, ranging from 75-85°F (24-29°C). The humidity level of the enclosure should be around 30-70%. If you create an outside enclosure, ensure that they should have access to shade.
Specific Substrate Needs
Kinkajous are messy creatures and their bedding needs to be cleaned frequently. They are prone to respiratory issues, so you should avoid dusty or aromatic substrates. Regular cleaning is essential to maintain hygiene and prevent odor buildup.
Exercise and Enrichment Needs
Kinkajous are nocturnal and arboreal. They need ample exercise to stay healthy. You should provide climbing structures, ropes, and interactive toys to encourage physical activity. Giving them regular out-of-cage time in a safe environment is beneficial.
You can also make one room of your home kinkajous-proof by hiding power cords, covering outlets, and removing breakable and sharp objects to roam and explore. Offering various exploration activities is crucial to keep them busy and mitigate their destructive instincts. Foraging food is also a great option for their mental stimulation.
Some of the examples of enrichment activities are
- Cat tree
- Foraging mat
- Pall pit
- The jungle gym
- Swings
- Partially occupied board
How to Handle Kinkajous?
Kinkajous are not cuddling pets so you should be cautious while handling them. Their unpredictable behavior makes them more difficult to handle. Kinkajous can be socialized with regular, gentle handling from a young age.
Use slow, calm movements and avoid startling them. Be mindful of their sharp claws and teeth. Building trust takes time and patience.
Health Issues
Kinkajous are prone to certain health issues due to their sugar-rich diet and lifestyle conditions. Kinkajous commonly face dental issues, obesity, respiratory infections, and parasitic infections. To ensure their health, regular veterinary checkups, a balanced diet with exercise, and a clean living environment are crucial.
Dental Problems:
Kinkajous have a sweet tooth and are therefore prone to dental issues such as gum disease and tooth decay. They need regular veterinary examinations to prevent the same.
Obesity:
As their diet primarily contains sugar, kinkajous tend to gain weight. Regular monitoring of portion size and exercise are a must for keeping them in a healthy range of weight.
Pathogens:
Kinkajous are susceptible to both internal and exterior parasite illnesses. Regular veterinarian examinations and preventive measures are a must to keep them healthy.
Veterinary Treatment
Kinkajous needs a medical assessment at least once a year. It may need a vaccination for Rabies, Distemper, and deworming.
At six weeks of age, kinkajous receive their first series of immunizations. Two more rounds are administered at eight weeks and twelve weeks of age. Every year after the first vaccine round, Kinkajous should have their booster shots updated. Moreover, they need to be spayed and neutered to reduce aggression. Though kinkajous are healthy animals, you should be vigilant for the following signs of ill health
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Sneezing, coughing, or wheezing
- Diarrhea or changes in stool
- Behavioral changes, such as increased aggression or withdrawal
Ethics and Legality of Owning a Kinkajous Pets
Ethically speaking kinkajous is a wild animal whose needs are different and difficult to be replicated in a home environment. Providing genuinely ethical care for an animal whose natural habitat differs much from a human home is another difficult task. Replicating the natural habitat of the kinkajou would be an expensive and time-consuming task.
It is legal to own a Kink in certain states New York, Texas, and North Carolina. A permit is required in some states such as Idaho, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. You should check the rules for your state before planning to own a kink.
Where to Buy
Kinkajous can be purchased from reputable private exotic animal breeding ranches, exotic pet stores, authentic websites, and rescue organizations.
You should ensure that the seller has proper licensing and that the animals are healthy and well-cared for.
Keeping kinkajous is quite expensive as you need to set up a huge enclosure. Kinkajous cost is around $2500-$3500 for a captive bred. The initial setup cost can be around $1,000-$2,500. This will include bedding, toys, food, and veterinary care.
Upkeep Cost
The fruit diet is expensive and difficult to maintain.
The upkeep cost can be around $300- $400 which includes food and house requirements. It can increase in case of emergency veterinarian visits.
Related Species
The species related to Kinkajous are:
- Raccoons (Procyon lotor)
- Coatis (Nasua nasua)
- Olingos (Bassaricyon spp.)
- Ringtailed cats (Bassariscus astutus)
Grooming
Kinkajous groom themselves, but regular checks for fur conditions, nails, and overall health are important. Nail trimming may be necessary.
Reproduction and Breeding
Kinkajous reach sexual maturity at around 18 months. Breeding pairs should be housed together, but separation may be needed if aggression occurs. Gestation lasts about 112-118 days, typically resulting in one or two offspring. The young are weaned at around 8-12 weeks. The young are born blind and helpless, relying on their mothers for warmth and nourishment.
What to Consider While Keeping a Kinkajoe as a Pet?
Maintaining them as “pets ” is not advised.” kinkajous are all fun until they reach roughly 18 months; after that journey, the real challenge begins. (that span is considerably less to decide whether to keep kinkajous as pets). Most of the time, individuals fail to completely understand what it takes to possess a kinkajou, which leaves these animals in an ongoing cycle of rehoming. The following are some of the reasons that you should consider before owning a kinkajous:
- They are expensive
- To find a veterinarian in your vicinity is difficult
- Kinkajous should be spayed or neutered at about 6 months old to prevent aggression
- Nocturnal nature creates lots of disturbance as they wake up at 8 pm and remain awake till morning.
- These are noisy creatures.
- They are smart enough to open cabinets, door knobs and sometimes open their cage latches.
- They have a strong will and if they get obsessed with something, they will not leave it.
- They have unpredictable behavior and can be vocal and bitey.
- Kinkajous teeth are sharp and their bites are deep punctures and horrific. They may latch onto your body part and lock their jaw which is very scary.
- They are messy creatures and need grooming
- They can’t be litter-trained
- They are destructive.
Interesting Facts About Kinkajous
Interesting Facts About Kinkajous- Kinkajous have a prehensile tail used for climbing and balancing.
- They have a long tongue (up to 5 inches) for extracting nectar from flowers. They can elongate by over 13 cm or 5 inches. Kinkajous use their lengthy tongues to reach within trees in search of food.
- Despite being called “honey bears,” they are not related to bears.
- They can rotate their ankles 180 degrees, aiding in climbing.
- They communicate through vocalizations, including whistles and screams.
- Kinkajous are nocturnal and spend most of their time in trees.
- They like eating upside down.
- Kinkajous have a lifespan of 20-25 years in captivity.
- They are often mistaken for ferrets or monkeys due to their appearance.
- They pee off high places.
- Because of their nocturnal habit, kinkajous have big eyes that help them see effectively in dim light.
- Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) are also called honey bears.
- Because of their exceptional sense of hearing, kinkajous can identify when snakes are approaching them.
- They have a keen sense of smell and can locate fruits at a great distance.
- These are amazing as babies: Cute, gentle, and interactive. But after one year, it is altogether a different ball game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Are kinkajous good pets?
Answer: They are not recommended as good pets due to their unpredictable aggressive behavior. However, some might consider keeping them as an exciting experience.
Question: How long do kinkajous live?
Answer: Kinkajous can live 20-25 years in captivity with proper care.
Question: Are kinkajous dangerous?
Answer: Kinkajous can be aggressive even to their owner, if startled or threatened. They have razor-sharp teeth to give deep bites.
Question: Can kinkajous be kept with other pets?
Answer: It’s generally not advisable to keep kinkajous with other pets due to their unique needs and potential for aggression.
Question: Are kinkajous legal to own?
Answer: The legality of owning a kinkajou varies by location. You can check local regulations before acquiring one.
Question: How do you handle a kinkajou?
Answer: Handle kinkajous gently and regularly to build trust. Be cautious of their sharp claws and teeth.
Conclusion
Kinkajous can be rewarding pets for those prepared to meet their needs, but they are not suitable for everyone. Potential owners should thoroughly research and consider the commitment required before acquiring a kinkajou.
Kinkajous are remarkable creatures with unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in the rainforest canopy. Their playful behavior, important ecological role, and distinctive appearance make them a fascinating subject of study and admiration. However, it’s essential to protect their natural habitats and ensure that any kept pets are cared for responsibly.
