Kinkajou

   The kinkajou is sometimes called the "honey bear." Another name for it is "night monkey." Neither of these names is good, for this little animal is neither a bear nor a monkey. It is a cousin of the raccoon. But it does not have the raccoon's black mask.
   As it sits up, a kinkajou looks a little like a small bear except for its long tail. It can hang upside down by curling this long tail around branches. In zoos many visitors like to watch the kinkajous hang head down as they eat.
   Kinkajous are found in the forests of South America, Central America, and Mexico. In their forest homes they sleep during the day. At night they travel through the trees in groups like monkeys as they hunt for food. One can easily see how they get the name of night monkeys. Of course, they are also like many monkeys in being able to hang by their tails.
   These little animals make good pets. But they need a great deal of food. To a kinkajou three or four big bananas are no more than a light lunch.