Kinkajou
VU

Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkajou

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Kinkajou populations face mounting pressure from habitat destruction as tropical forests are cleared for agriculture, cattle ranching, and urban development throughout their range. The pet trade poses an additional significant threat, with kinkajous captured from the wild to supply both legal and illegal exotic animal markets due to their appealing appearance and docile nature. Their slow reproductive rate and specialized arboreal lifestyle make populations particularly vulnerable to fragmentation, as they require continuous forest canopy for movement and foraging.

Threat summary

Habitat

Kinkajous inhabit tropical rainforests from southern Mexico through Central America to northern South America, preferring dense canopy environments where they spend most of their lives in trees. They favor primary and secondary forests with abundant fruiting trees, particularly figs, and require continuous canopy cover for their strictly arboreal lifestyle.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Kinkajou classified as Vulnerable?
Kinkajou is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Kinkajou populations face mounting pressure from habitat destruction as tropical forests are cleared for agriculture, cattle ranching, and urban development throughout their range. The pet trade poses an additional significant threat, with kinkajous captured from the wild to supply both legal and illegal exotic animal markets due to their appealing appearance and docile nature. Their slow reproductive rate and specialized arboreal lifestyle make populations particularly vulnerable to fragmentation, as they require continuous forest canopy for movement and foraging.
Where does Kinkajou live?
Kinkajou occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Kinkajou?
The main threats to Kinkajou are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.