Luna was a privately owned pet surrendered by her owner to Animal Tracks. She was immediately adopted by our mature female kinkajou, Honey Bear who is a fantastic and lovable girl. This, however, did not rub off on Luna who has earned the nickname, Luna the Lunatic. Luna is actually the norm for the species. They are nocturnal and don’t like to be woken up if the sun is out. She will angrily jump at you like a crazy jack in the box if you try to check on her during morning rounds and will come at you like a vampire if you dare enter her enclosure after dark. Apparently, Honey Bear is the Beauty and Luna is the Beast.
ORDER: Carnivora
FAMILY: Procyonidae
GENUS: Potos
SPECIES: Flavus
Kinkajous are nocturnal or night dwelling frugivores or fruit eaters. They are also nighttime pollinators and seed spreaders meaning they keep the worlds jungles growing. Unlike their cousin the raccoon and coatimundi they do not walk on the ground. They are arboreal, built for the trees, equipped with prehensile tails and feet that can turn backwards so they can run up or down trees head first. They have very keen hearing and can hear a snake slithering in the canopy. They breed year round and are polygynandrous or multiple partners. They have a gestation period of 120 days where 1 to 2 pups are born. Mama carries the pups on her belly for several months. The babies are weaned at 8 months old, and males reach maturity at 18 months while the females at 2 to 3 years.
Threats
Destruction of natural habitat, pet trade, fur trade and bush meat trade.
Conservation Status
LC - Least Concern