Kinkajou
KinkajouKinkajouKinkajou

Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Soberanía National Park
46 Verified records at Soberanía National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
🌙 Nocturnal When it's active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am)

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. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou sighting in Soberanía National Park, based on 46 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Soberanía National Park

White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

50–60% · Likely
Western Lowland Olingo
LC

Western Lowland Olingo

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bassaricyon medius

5–10% · Rare
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

Insufficient data
Crab-eating Raccoon
LC

Crab-eating Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon cancrivorus

Insufficient data
Tayra
LC

Tayra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eira barbara

5–10% · With luck
Crab-eating Fox
LC

Crab-eating Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Cerdocyon thous

5–10% · Rare
Ocelot
LC

Ocelot

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leopardus pardalis

<5% · Rare
Jaguarundi
LC

Jaguarundi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Puma yagouaroundi

Insufficient data
Jaguar
NT

Jaguar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera onca

Insufficient data
Margay
NT

Margay

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leopardus wiedii

Insufficient data
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
5–10
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
10–20
Nov
20–30
Dec

🌙 When They're Spotted

Most active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am) · across all parks (global)

🌙Nocturnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
30–40%
2 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
20–30%
3 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
4 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
5 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
6 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
7 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
10–20%
8 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
9 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
10 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
10–20%
11 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
5–10%
12 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
5–10%
13 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
14 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
5–10%
15 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
16 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
17 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
18 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
19 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
20 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
21 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
22 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
23 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
24 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
25 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
26 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
27 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
28 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
29 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
Insufficient data
30 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
31 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
32 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
33 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
34 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
35 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Kinkajou in Soberanía National Park?

About 16% of wildlife watchers report a Kinkajou sighting in Soberanía National Park, based on 46 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Kinkajou in Soberanía National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Kinkajou in Soberanía National Park in our monthly data.

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