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White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

History of Managed Care

Zoos, general

  • Fairly common in zoos (Glatston 1994)

Husbandry at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

(Kym Janke, personal communication, 2019, and as noted)

General

  • Active during the day
  • Like to chew

Shelters and enclosures

  • Benefit from structural layers and depth for resting and climbing
  • Hammocks for resting
  • Climb wire mesh easily (Krinsley 1989)

Social interactions

  • Social group very important
  • Group members sleep next to each other
  • Not territorial; females and males can be housed together

Diet in managed care

  • Fruit
  • Vegetables (tubers, leafy greens)
    • Favorite food: peas
  • Earthworms
  • Crickets
  • Raw meat
  • Dog food
  • Hard-boiled eggs

Breeding

  • Breed well in managed care (Glatston 1994)

Enrichment and training

  • Shiny objects
    • Mirrors
    • Bells
    • Metal bird toys
  • Thick rope
  • Climbing structures
  • Puzzle feeders
  • Problem-solving tasks

Curious and Intelligent

White-nosed coati at the San Diego Zoo

Coatis are curious, problem-solving animals.

In zoos, coatis benefit from enrichment programs that keep their minds active and challenged.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

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