ANIMAL CURIOSITIES

Why this funny little animal has gone viral on the web

The kinkajou, is a mammal native to Central and South America.

With its short, thick, velvet-soft coat, long tongue and bulging eyes, the kinkajou has become a real star on social networks, especially on TikTok, where its videos go around the world.

However, this tender animal is often the victim of illegal trapping to be sold as a pet or killed for its fur or meat. 

This photo gallery aims to raise awareness of the kinkajou's plight and its survival difficulties, but also to celebrate its beauty and friendliness.

Getty Images
Why this funny little animal has gone viral on the web
The kinkajou is a mammal native to Central and South America. Thanks to its funny appearance, the kinkajou has become a real star on social networks, especially on TikTok, where its videos go round the world. However, this cute animal is often the victim of illegal trapping to be sold as a pet or killed for its fur or meat. In this photo gallery, we reveal something about the little deer with the aim of raising awareness of its plight, but also celebrating its beauty and friendliness.
Getty Images
The kinkajou
The kinkajou (Potos flavus), is a mammal native to Central and South America. It is the only species of the genus Poto and belongs to the family Procyonidae, but due to its appearance it is sometimes mistaken for a ferret or monkey.
Wikimedia - Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C
A nocturnal animal
This arboreal mammal is very rare to encounter, but not to worry: the kinkajou is not an endangered animal. In fact, the kinkajou is a nocturnal animal.
Wikimedia - Di Kalamazoo Public Library
Sweetest
This cuddly animal has become popular on social networks, in particular TikTok, because of its tender appearance: it has a short, thick, velvet-soft coat, a very long tongue and protruding eyes that make it truly distinctive.
Wikimedia - Robrrb
Awareness-raising
However, many specimens are captured to be sold as pets or killed either for their fur (used to make wallets and saddles) or for meat. For this reason, CITES prohibits their international trade, except for reasons related to scientific research.
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