Kinkajouキンカジュー

Potos flavusLC— Least Concern

The kinkajou (Potos flavus) is a nocturnal, tree-dwelling mammal of Central and South American rainforests, related to raccoons despite its cat-like appearance. Nicknamed the 'honey bear,' it feeds mainly on fruit and uses a prehensile tail as a fifth limb for climbing. Once thought to be purely solitary, it is now known to form small social groups, and it is classified as Least Concern.

Kinkajou (reference photo)
Photo: Aramburu Carlos / CC0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Carnivora / Procyonidae Source
Size
Head-body length 40.5–76 cm (tail 39.2–57 cm)
Weight
1.4–4.6 kg
Lifespan
Captive: a record of 23 years 7 months at Amsterdam Zoo (another record reaches 42 years)
Diet
Omnivore Feeds mainly on fruit such as avocados, guavas, and mangoes, along with nectar, honey, insects, and birds and their eggs
Activity
Nocturnal; rests in tree hollows and similar spots during the day
Distribution
Widely distributed from Mexico to Bolivia across more than 17 countries in Central and South America. Source
Sources
ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

  • Nicknamed the 'honey bear,' it actually eats little wild honey despite its name. Source
  • It uses its prehensile tail as a 'fifth hand' for climbing and can rotate its ankles 180 degrees for exceptional arboreal agility. Source
  • Once thought to be strictly solitary, research since 2000 has revealed it lives in complex small social groups. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 5

Noichi Zoological Park of Kochi PrefectureKochiA 20-minute walk or 13-minute rental-bicycle ride from Noichi Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line.

Source

Hirakawa ZooKagoshimaAbout a 20-minute walk from Goino Station on the JR Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line, or take a bus bound for Taniyama / Dobutsuen from Fukuhira Nokyo-mae to the last stop.

Source

Chiba Zoological ParkChibaOpened in 1985

Source

Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

Source

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

Source

Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

Source

Closed: 2025-09-30 Official Site

Latest news

1

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Least Concern (LC)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Is the kinkajou related to bears?
No. Despite the nickname 'honey bear,' it belongs to the raccoon family (Procyonidae), not the bear family. Source
What makes the kinkajou's tail special?
It is prehensile, functioning like a fifth hand that lets the animal grip branches securely while climbing through the forest canopy. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 5 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org