The kinkajou, (Potos flavus), also known as the “Honey Bear” or “Night Walker” in Belize, is a furry, long-tailed mammal that lives in the lowland rain forests of Southern Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. They are arboreal (living in or among trees) and stay in the forest canopy, seldom descending to the forest floor. They are found in a variety of habitats, from mature tropical forests to heavily disturbed and secondary forests. Kinkajous are extremely agile and fast, traveling quickly along the tree tops, jumping noisily from tree to tree. As nocturnal (most active at night) creatures, the kinkajou sleeps during the day in tree hollows or leaves to avoid all contact with sunlight. They are in the same family as raccoons (Procyonidae), and have a similar role in rainforest ecosystems that raccoons do in temperate forest ecosystems.

Closely related to the raccoon, the kinkajou is a small, furry, long-tailed mammal that lives in the lowland rain forests of Southern Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. They live among the forest canopy and seldom descending to the forest floor. Kinkajous are extremely agile and fast, traveling quickly along the tree tops, jumping noisily from tree to tree.

This small animal has short, soft honey gold or brown fur, a round head, small round ears and a cat like face with very prominent eyes. The kinkajou has a fully prehensile (adapted for seizing, grasping or holding) tail that is used as support when climbing or resting. To aid in climbing, they can rotate their feet backwards so that they can hang from tree branches. The toes are joined by a membrane that extends a third of the way down each toe and each forepaw has five digits. Kinkajous have large scent glands on their throats and sides of their jaws, which are hairless. The length of the head and body is 16 to 22 inches, with the tail being the same length. They weigh between 4 to 10 pounds.

Although kinkajous are evolutionarily derived from meat-eating ancestors, they are primarily omnivorous, eating both animal and vegetable food. Although 90% of their diet consists of fruit, they do consume invertebrates, small mammals, eggs, leaves, honey and nectar. They use their incredibly long tongues (around six inches long) to collect nectar and to get honey from bee hives. When collecting nectar the kinkajou turns upside down, on its side or on its back so not to lose any of the fruit juice. While doing this the creature also collects pollen on its face, making them the only carnivore that is also an important pollinator. They also use their clawed hands to pluck and eat fruit and in the dry season of Belize they often eat flowers for their nectar.

A major method of communication between kinkajous is by scent. Kinkajous have scent glands near the mouth, on the throat, and on the belly. Making sounds (grunting and growling) is another way these animals communicate. They have a variety of vocalizations, from chatters to screams, and a “kissing” noise made when happy or interested. They also vocalize using small “peeps” for close communication and a shrill scream for far away communication The Kinkajou is a solitary animal, avoiding contact with other kinkajous unless mating. Each kinkajou has its own territory that it marked with its scent. They socialize only to mate and after a gestation of 112 to 118 days the female gives birth to one (sometimes two) cubs, this usually takes place from April to December. The cub is born in a dark den with their eyes and ears closed. Their eyes open within two to six weeks, and in another three to six weeks their tails become prehensile. The kinkajou mother is very protective of her cub. During times of danger she will carry the infant upside down just below her chest. The mother carries the young for almost four months, at which time the young are almost independent.

Kinkajous play an important part in their environment. As pollinators and seed dispersers, they are considered a “keystone” rainforest species since they are necessary to the survival of the ecosystem they reside in. Their predators include diurnal birds of prey, which take sleeping kinkajous from tree tops, foxes, tayras, jaguarundi, jaguar, ocelot, margay, and people, who hunt them for their meat and fur. Kinkajou numbers are falling rapidly as a result of deforestation and habitat loss.

Kinkajous are sometimes kept as pets. Their personality tends to be playful and curious, and they are generally tame. However, some owners report unpredictable, vicious attacks by their kinkajous even after several years of non-aggression. In 2005, kinkajous were made popular as pets by celebrities such as Paris Hilton, who named hers “Baby Luv”.