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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 ~50% in a week ~80%
47 Verified sightings at Soberanía National Park From 2019 to 2026
201 In all 15 parks
October 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 Soberanía National Park
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 Soberanía National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Kinkajou in Soberanía National Park?
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou sighting in Soberanía National Park on a given day, based on 47 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 14th most-seen of the 36 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Kinkajou in Soberanía National Park?
October
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou in Soberanía National Park on a given day, against about 10% in June and August, the lowest months. That is one of Soberanía National Park's wettest months, with about 330 mm of rain against 25 mm in February.
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 Soberanía National Park the best place to see a Kinkajou?
3rd of 15
Of the 15 parks where we can rate Kinkajou sightings, Soberanía National Park ranks 3rd at about 20%. The best odds are in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (Belize, about 30%) and Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador, about 20%).
Which relatives of the Kinkajou live in Soberanía National Park?
Same family: Procyonidae
The closest relatives of the Kinkajou that you can see in Soberanía National Park (family Procyonidae, Raccoons, Coatis, and Allies) are White-nosed Coati (about 60%) and Western Lowland Olingo (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
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 Soberanía National Park (47 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.
