World Coati Day: Why These Curious Creatures Deserve Our Attention
- Bethany Akhtar
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
Today is World Coati Day! Find out why these creatures are important to protect as Bethany Akhtar explains their vital role in the food chain, the threats they face and how aiding their conservation is easier than you might think.
A white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) amongst some leaves. Image Credit: Marisela Lopez on Unsplash
Every year, the coatimundi (more commonly known as the coati) is celebrated on December 3rd, at the height of their breeding season, to raise conservation awareness and support for this charismatic species. Coatis are well-known for their intelligence and ability to survive in diverse habitats, which raises a concerning question - if they are so adaptable, why is coati conservation needed?
Firstly, let’s get to know the coati.
Coatis are diurnal, omnivorous mammals that resemble an unusual mix between a raccoon, a dog and a monkey, in part for their looks and in part for their playful nature. Whilst they are not actually related to dogs or monkeys, they are part of the raccoon family (Procyonidae) and are recognised by distinct looks shared by both species such as mask-like facial marking, long front claws and bushy, ringed tails.
Coatimundis live natively throughout the Americas, ranging from Southwestern USA to Northern Argentina and Uruguay, meaning they inhabit a variety of environments including grasslands, mountainous areas, and tropical and subtropical forests. Since coatis mainly live in dense forests or at high-elevation, most people are unlikely to ever encounter them in the wild.
A key part of their habitat flexibility is down to their ability to eat almost anything found in leaf litter, from insects to small vertebrates, as well as plants and the nuts and fruits they produce.
In order to find this food, they use their long front claws and upturned snout to rummage through the soil and leaf litter. Their claws also help them grip tree branches to search for food above the ground, helped by their long semi-prehensile tail which can partially grasp and hold onto branches to improve climbing and balancing.
These activities give the coati a key, mid-level role to play within the food chain, since they control rodent, small reptile and invertebrate populations whilst simultaneously acting as an important food source for predators. Additionally, coatis help to disrupt and aerate the soil when foraging for food, which in turn supports nutrient adsorption for plants and aids the dispersal of seeds and pollen - all of which are crucial for ecosystem health.
Aside from their ecological importance, coatis are interesting animals due to their intelligence and interesting social behaviours. For example, they exhibit complex problem solving skills like being able to open containers, unzip bags and open simple latches. These impressive cognitive abilities are another factor that help them to easily and quickly adapt to new situations.
However, combined with their physical dexterities, their intelligence allows them to enter human-populated areas, both urban and suburban, where they are known to prey on poultry or consume crops - similar to the scavenging behaviours of their Northern cousin, the racoon. As a consequence, coatis are sometimes considered to be vermin by farmers and landowners.
As food-oriented animals, coatis can go in search of food in large ‘troops’ consisting of up to 30-40 females and juveniles. Conversely, the males live a solitary life until breeding season, due to their aggression towards the young, where they may even attempt to kill the juveniles. This lonely lifestyle inspired their nickname “coatimundi”, meaning “lone coati” in the native Brazilian language, Guarani.
What threats are coatis currently facing?
Despite the numerous benefits that coatis give to ecosystems, people continue to threaten coati populations through a variety of human activities.
One of the greatest threats to coatis is habitat loss and destruction, caused by factors such as deforestation for agriculture, wildlife farming and urban development. These activities lead to a process known as habitat fragmentation, whereby the larger, continuous forest habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches. This isolation leaves species with less space to find the resources they need for survival, and ultimately leaves them with reduced population sizes and a greater extinction risk.
Commercial logging in Brasil. Image Credit: PROJETO CAFÉ GATO-MOURISCO on Unsplash
Other threats to coatis include being hunted for their meat and fur, the pet trade and being persecuted by farmers and landowners when they prey upon livestock or search for insects amongst crops, where they can sometimes damage the crop itself. As a result, many farmers see coatis as pests, and will either kill or trap them for sale.
Additionally, coatis being fed by tourists can become too dependent on humans for their food and so will frequently travel to these areas, consequently becoming at risk of being hit by cars.
While these challenges are a pressing problem for all coati species, the threat level to each species varies. For example, the white-nosed and brown-nosed (or South American) coatis are listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, owing to their broader range across the Americas which gives them increased adaptability. However, the Western and Eastern mountain coati species are IUCN-listed as ‘Near Threatened’ and ‘Endangered’ respectively, due to their restricted range as high-altitude habitat specialists.
Having been found in only a few forests of the Paramo mountains of the Northern Andes, the Eastern mountain coati is the most elusive of the four coati species - so much so that there has been no photographic or filmed evidence of the species so far!
So what’s being done to improve the situation?
Fortunately, there are some important conservation efforts in place ranging from in-situ habitat management to protected reserve conservation.
Global organisations like the Rainforest Trust and the IUCN help to protect the coati’s natural habitats through practices like wilderness preservation, supporting sustainable forestry practices and contributing to restoration projects. For example, the IUCN has implemented the Mesoamerica Critical Forest Biomes Integrated Program, which includes cross-border conservation initiatives that work to sustainably manage Mesoamerican forests, which in turn helps to maintain wild animal populations.
Moreover, organisations like the Dracula Reserve Expansion Project and the Bioparque La Reserva Foundation are more localised conservation groups that work to conserve coatis within large, protected reserves. For example, the Dracula Youth Reserve has recently expanded in Ecuador’s Carchi Province, helping to protect the Western Mountain Coati within a 1,050-acre forest site - a huge win for this struggling species!
There are also various wildlife parks that help to conserve coatis via the provision of safe habitats and veterinary care, as well as educating the public on the threats they face in the wild. In Arizona, for example, the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing native coatis and also acts as a place of sanctuary for coatis who are unable to be released back into the wild.
Despite these efforts, more could be done to protect the coati - for example, the species have been poorly studied in comparison to other threatened species, and so the relative decline in their numbers isn’t very well understood - leading to a need for further research and in-situ monitoring of the species. However, there are some surprisingly beneficial ways that you can get involved with their conservation.
A South American coati (Nasua nasua) eating a slice of watermelon. Image Credit: Alex Hayward, taken at Shepreth Wildlife Park.
How can you support coati conservation?
Although the solutions to the problem may seem grandiose or out-of-reach, supporting coati populations can be as simple as making a few, small changes to your lifestyle. Perhaps you unknowingly implement a few, coati-conserving habits within your life already?
Here are 5 effective ways you can help:
Avoid the pet trade - It is important to remember that whilst coatis are indeed adorable, they should not be kept as pets and it is equally important to educate those who aren’t aware to help ensure both coati and human welfare. Instead, you can visit them at wildlife parks across the UK such as Shepreth Wildlife Park, Wingham Wildlife Park and Battersea Park Children’s Zoo and support conservation efforts directly through your entry ticket!
Support sustainable practices that are deforestation-free - Making informed choices as a consumer can make all the difference when it comes to preventing the major threats to animals like coatis. For example, choosing certified products, such as FSC-approved wood and paper products, or Rainforest Alliance-approved tea and coffee, helps to support sustainable logging practices, which consequently reduces harmful deforestation practices threatening coatis.
Fundraise for coati conservation groups - Fundraising is a fun, cost-free method of supporting a wildlife group who help coati populations. A prominent organisation accepting donations is the Bioparque La Reserva Foundation, which works to protect the endangered Western Mountain Coati within a Columbian reserve. However, there are a wide range of organisations who aid coati conservation and can be found on the World Coati Day website.
Sponsor a coati - A more money-focused, but highly effective way of supporting coatis is by sponsoring a coati at a wildlife park. Through this method, your money goes straight into coati care; for example, Shepreth Wildlife Park offers annual coati sponsorships starting from £15, where funds go directly towards providing enrichment, food and any materials needed for their life at the park.
Volunteer your time - Volunteering at a wildlife park that helps to protect coatis is a brilliant way of getting directly involved with their conservation and helps to educate others about the threats they face. Arguably, getting to spend time around such amazing animals is a truly special and rewarding experience!
