On Monday, Zoo Brno in the Czech Republic gave its 6 young Red Coati cubs a routine vet check. The cubs received vaccinations and tiny microchips to identify them. The litter of young Coatis includes 4 males and 2 females. These South American members of the Raccoon family, known also as Brazilian Aardvarks, are active both day and night and prefer to sleep in elevated treetop nests.
Photo credit: Zoo Brno
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A recently-arrived group of Coatis has settled into Melbourne Zoo so well that they have produced three litters, with a total of 22 kittens. The kittens have been secluded in nest boxes for the first weeks of their lives. Now they are starting to eat solid food, and it’s time for a large-scale session with the Zoo’s Veterinarians, who need to protect the kittens against three potential diseases with the F3 vaccination.
There are four adult females and one male in the group, selected by the international breeding program to create a genetically diverse breeding group. Coatis belong to the larger Raccoon family, which includes 17 species, all native to the Americas. This species is native to Arizona, Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Photo credit: Meagan Thomas, Melbourne Zoo
They are very skilled climbers, known for descending trees head first. Their long tails are used as balancing rods to assist when they’re climbing. Coatis are omnivores, eating insects, fruits, other vegetation, and meat. In the wild, a new mother will typically keep her kittens isolated in her nest for 6 to 10 weeks before rejoining the band.
Continue reading "Baby Coati Count Reaches 22 At Melbourne Zoo!" »
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There's never a dull moment for these cuddling baby Coatis (AKA Brazilian Aardvarks!), photographed earlier this summer at Marwell Wildlife Park by Danielle Connor. A total of 5 baby Coati call Marwell home and as you can see, they spend much of their time wrestling and rough housing in their exhibit. Coatis are members of the Racoon family and although few scientific population studies have been made in recent years, their numbers appear to be in decline due to environmental destruction in their native Central and South America.
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Closely related to racoons, the Coati Mundi is a curious, clever, and affectionate critter. These photos were taken last week at Germany's Darmstadt Zoo. Coatis use special postures to communicate like hiding their long nose between the front paws as a sign of submission or lowering the head, baring their teeth and hopping about to signal aggresion. Coincidentally, that's also how I start a fight.
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