Kinkajou History

Kinkajous are a small, golden brown, tree-dwelling mammal that are native to Central and South American rainforests. They are generally friendly, playful, and curious when raised in captivity and are perhaps best known by their other name..."Honey Bears".

Overall, this is a high-maintenance pet that requires a knowledgeable and committed owner.The Kinkajou (honey bear) can be easily startled by loud noise and they develop an intense bond with their first owner. Subsequent owners might find they can become aggressive. They require lots of room for exercise and they need a varied diet that mimics what they would eat in the wild.

Kinkajou Care Facts

In the wild, kinkajous spend most of their time in the rainforest canopies, and they are nocturnal animals (more active at night). As pets, kinkajous generally are active and curious, and they like to get into things, requiring a lot of hands-on care from you to keep them entertained...

They can be noisy at times and have a variety of vocalizations, including a soft huffing, chirping, or whistling; a "barking" noise like a yelping dog; and a shrill shriek that can be very loud.
They can be messy pets because they like to toss their food around.
They secrete a light brown oil from their feet which will leave marks on furniture over time. This can easily be cleaned with Dawn dish detergent.
When handled regularly from a young age, kinkajous are typically happy to sit in their owners' arms or on their shoulders.
Expect to spend at least a few hours per day interacting with your pet to keep it tame.

Kinkajou Health Issues

Kinkajous need as large of an enclosure as possible. At minimum, it should be 4 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 6 feet tall. I recommend if possible they have their own room loaded with plenty of animal enrichment for enjoyment and stimulation. Provide several branches, ledges and shelves, and ropes for climbing within the enclosure but make sure there is no Lemon grass anywhere in the house because it's toxic to them.

In captivity, they can be fed commercial primate foods, which will form a nutritious base to their diet with many vitamins and minerals.
They also should get a variety of fruits (especially tropical fruits), such as bananas, papayas, mangoes, melons, kiwis, grapes, pineapples, and pomegranates.
Some kinkajous are prone to dental disease due to the amount of sugar in their diet.