One of the most interesting aspects of being at Iguassu is the opportunity to observe and interact with coatis (pronounced "kwah-tees"). Coatis are amusing furry animals which thrive here at Iguassu. They can be seen in the forested areas, constantly scurrying about searching for food (they like fruit, insects, etc.). They look like a cross between a raccoon and a small ant-eater. They are very frendly to people as they are accustomed to tourists. Of course, one is not supposed to feed them but, of course, people do. So, the coatis are constantly on the lookout for people bearing food. They are smart and quick - just today, one scared me to death by popping out from a trash can as I was hiking along the trail - and the trash cans are supposed to be "coati-proof"... We can't get enough of these wild little creatures!!
Yesterday we saw coati babies as well as adult coatis - there were dozens of them!! Check out the video of some young coatis having a little fun....
Very cute--they look well-fed!!
ReplyDeleteThey may be cute, but don't be fooled into petting them... if they sense danger, they have sharp canines which they can use to bite... additionally they are potential vectors of rabies... find more about coatis in this site...
ReplyDeletehttp://factspage.blogspot.com/2010/03/14-interesting-coati-facts.html