Current:Home > InvestExotic small carnivore, native to tropical rainforests, rescued from rest stop in Washington -RiseUp Capital Academy
Exotic small carnivore, native to tropical rainforests, rescued from rest stop in Washington
View
Date:2025-04-17 06:54:33
A young kinkajou was rescued in Washington state after it was found abandoned at a rest stop in Yakima, a city about 150 miles from Seattle.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police officers rescued the wild animal from a rest area in Yakima Sunday after they received a request for assistance, the department said in an email to USA TODAY on Thursday.
Officers then transported the animal to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, where veterinary staff assessed its condition. The zoo said it would temporarily hold the animal and provide medical assistance as necessary until a more permanent home is found.
More:Manta Ray submarine drone seemingly spotted on Google Maps at California naval base
Animal quarantined upon arrival at zoo
Point Defiance Zoo, in a post on social media, said the rainforest mammal was immediately quarantined upon arrival at the zoo's animal hospital when he arrived and will "undergo a comprehensive wellness exam with our veterinary team this week."
The zoo said the animal's rescue highlights "the dangers of the illegal pet trade."
"While kinkajous are not endangered, they are hunted for fur, meat, and the exotic pet trade, threatening their wild population," Point Defiance Zoo said in their post.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Wildlife Confiscations Network was also contacted in the process of the rescue.
What are kinkajous?
Kinkajous are a tropical rainforest mammal closely related to raccoons, olingos and coatis, as per Smithsonian Magazine. They are often confused with primates given their prehensile tails, Point Defiance Zoo says, but are actually small nocturnal carnivores. They can be found in tropical rainforests from southern Mexico through Brazil.
"Despite their cuteness, kinkajous do not make good pets," Point Defiance Zoo said.
It is not immediately clear how the animal got to the rest stop. The Washington State Fish and Wildlife Police, in their statement highlighted the dangers of releasing or abandoning exotic pets in the wild, explaining that such animals can not only be a danger to people and the area's native wildlife, but are also not equipped to survive in the wild.
"Exotic animals in need of a new home should be taken to a permitted animal sanctuary as they are equipped to give the animal the space and care it needs in captivity," the department said.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (714)
Related
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Remembrance done right: How TCM has perfected the 'in memoriam' montage
- Hate crimes reached record levels in 2023. Why 'a perfect storm' could push them higher
- Snow hinders rescues and aid deliveries to isolated communities after Japan quakes kill 126 people
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Massive California wave kills Georgia woman visiting beach with family
- Over 100 evacuate Russia’s Belgorod while soldiers celebrate Orthodox Christmas on the front line
- Police probe UK Post Office for accusing over 700 employees of theft. The culprit was an IT glitch
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- 'There were no aliens': Miami police clarify after teen fight spawns viral conspiracy theory
Ranking
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Islamic State group claims responsibility for a minibus explosion in Afghan capital that killed 2
- Paul Mescal on that 'Foe' movie twist ending, why it's 'like 'Marriage Story' on steroids'
- The Perry school shooting creates new questions for Republicans in Iowa’s presidential caucuses
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Early Mickey Mouse to star in at least 2 horror flicks, now that Disney copyright is over
- Death toll rises to 5 in hospital fire in northern Germany
- LSU set to make new DC Blake Baker the highest-paid assistant in the country, per reports
Recommendation
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Longtime New Mexico state Sen. Garcia dies at age 87; champion of children, families, history
What sets Ravens apart from rest of NFL? For one, enviable depth to weather injuries
Pope Francis warns against ideological splits in the Church, says focus on the poor, not ‘theory’
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Supreme Court lets Idaho enforce abortion ban for now and agrees to hear case
FAA orders grounding of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after Alaska Airlines incident
Attack in southern Mexico community killed at least 5 people, authorities say