A main road balance stop in Yakima , Washington , had an strange visitant recently , with a mammal called a Potos caudivolvulus ( Potos flavus ) – usually found in the forests of the Neotropics – being discover by Interstate 82 in the Pacific Northwest nation . The animal was rescue by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police officers on June 23 , and is currently being cared for by Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium ( PDZA ) .
" Why was it at our east Selah Creek Rest Area over the wknd ? We have no idea , ” Washington State Department of Transportation Eastposted on X. “ We do n’t make out if it was dropped off or escaped . ” The little guy is very much a whodunit at this point , with PDZA telling IFLScience : " We do not have it away yet where he add up from . "
The kinkajou " underwent a comprehensive health examination on June 27 , " PDZA continued . " He has a respectable appetite and menagerie stave are feed him a full and good for you diet . We are expect the event of diagnostic examination , including comprehensive line of descent work , to get a complete assessment of his health . "
The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) state that these mammal are find in forest across Surinam , Mexico , Peru , Venezuela , Guatemala , French Guiana , and Brazil – a far cry from a sleep stop in Washington . “ This new kinkajou ’s natural selection is a will to the collaborative efforts of state wildlife jurisprudence enforcement and the menagerie , play up the dangers of the illegal pet trade , ” PDZA tell in astatement .
Although the kinkajou is class as Least Concern by the IUCN , theystatethat “ Potential threat include disforestation , capture for the favored trade and hunt for its meat and pelt . ”
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Kinkajous aremembersof the Procyonidae kin , much like raccoon , and are do it for their making love of honey . They are one of the two carnivore in the human race that have a prehensile tail , portion out the laurels with the Zea mays everta - scentedbinturong .
They can also rick their feet slow-witted to help them scuttle up and down tree diagram , dubbed a “ dainty adaptation to have ” in a video of an examination of the potto found in Washington stake by PDZA .
The kinkajou was immediately quarantine upon arrival at the zoological garden . PDZA ’s Head Veterinarian Dr Karen Wolf said that the fiddling guy is in “ average wellness overall ” but is “ very sparse , weighing only 2.5 pound [ 1.14 kilograms ] , ” with Male of the species ordinarily librate 1.4 to 4.5 kilo ( 3 to 10 pound ) .
The zoo is currently work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to find this misplaced mammal a forever place .
