A torch into the mango tree at night picks out two enormous eyes and a golden animal hanging by its tail, chewing, unbothered. Everyone’s first guess is monkey. It is a kinkajou.
Where you’ll see it
Fruiting trees at night, in gardens and forest. Mango, fig and papaya trees in season are where to look. In the dry forest it also visits flowering trees for nectar.
What to know
A nocturnal member of the raccoon family with a prehensile tail, a long tongue for nectar and a sweet tooth. It is gentle by nature and pays no attention to people, but like anything wild it bites when handled. Sadly it is also taken for the pet trade. Leave it in the tree, accept the loss of a few mangoes, and consider it a good deal.
