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Kinkajou
Potos flavus
Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnivorans)
- FamilyProcyonidae (Raccoons, Coatis, and Allies)
- GenusPotos (Kinkajous)
- SpeciesPotos flavus (Kinkajou)
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
7 Verified sightings at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary From 2019 to 2026
201 In all 15 parks
April Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted
About the Kinkajou
The kinkajou (/ˈkɪŋkədʒuː/ KING-kə-joo; Potos flavus) is a mammal of the family Procyonidae, a relative to olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. It is the only member of the genus Potos and is also known as the honey bear (a name shared with several unrelated species). Though kinkajous are arboreal, they are not closely related to any other tree-dwelling mammal group (primates, mustelids, etc.).
Native to tropical rainforests of Mexico, Central and South America, this mostly frugivorous mammal is seldom seen by people because of its strict nocturnal habits. However, it is hunted for the pet trade, its skin (to make wallets and horse saddles), and its meat. The species has been included in Appendix III of CITES by Honduras, which means that exports from Honduras require an export permit, and exports from other countries require a certificate of origin or of re-export. They may live up to 40 years in captivity.
The common name kinkajou derives from French quincajou, based on the Algonquian name for the wolverine. It is similar to the Ojibwe word gwiingwaʼaage, perhaps from a Proto-Algonquian *kwi·nkwaʔa·ke. Its other names in English... Wikipedia →
Sounds
Call0:45
Ecuador · 2025
© Marc Anderson · XC985502 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Recording0:10
Brazil · 2020
© Marllus Rafael Almeida · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:05
Costa Rica · 2026
© Andres Vila · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recent sightings of Kinkajou in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇧🇿 Belize | |
| 2 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Soberanía National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 4 | Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Piedras Blancas National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 6 | Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 7 | Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 8 | Tayrona National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 9 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 10 | Manuel Antonio National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 11 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 12 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 13 | Cahuita National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 14 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 15 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Kinkajou in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 7 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Kinkajou in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
April and July
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary on a given day, against under 5% in January–March and June, the lowest months. September has too few records to rate.
What time of day is best to see a Kinkajou?
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Kinkajou sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Is Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary the best place to see a Kinkajou?
Yes
Of the 15 parks where we can rate Kinkajou sightings, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador, about 20%) and Soberanía National Park (Panama, about 20%).
Where does the Kinkajou sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Kinkajou is recorded against all the mammals logged in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (7 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
