It could appear to be Gollum escaped from J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe by house and time, however this isn’t fiction. A kinkajou was climbing on a wood signal put up at a Washington State relaxation cease, and that isn’t the place this animal is meant to be. Possibly that’s why it seemed so disturbed when somebody took footage of the creature peering at them.
This week, the Washington State Division of Transportation (DOT) posted photographs of the mysterious Washington kinkajou on X with the witty caption: “That is how your e mail finds me.” (Making a jab on the kinkajou’s Gollum-y vibe within the photograph.)
In actuality, kinkajous are lovable. This photograph undoubtedly doesn’t do the cute animal justice. However right here’s the rub: Kinkajous dwell in tropical rainforests. Their pure vary is from southern Mexico by Brazil—in different phrases, method, method far-off from Washington State.
In a follow-up reply to its preliminary X put up, the Washington State DOT mentioned: “Hey from our pleasant Kinkajou! What’s that you just say? It’s a nocturnal rainforest animal. Why was it at our east Selah Creek Relaxation Space over the wknd? We do not know, however our pals with Dept. of Fish & Wildlife rescued him. We don’t know if it was dropped off or escaped.”
That is how your e mail finds me. https://t.co/i5PCH3fk5i pic.twitter.com/Eto3saTBQY
— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) June 24, 2024
About Kinkajous
Within the wild, kinkajous are nocturnal, arboreal animals. They’ve barely webbed arms and small claws, dense fur, and a protracted, prehensile tail. Kinkajous even have lengthy tongues they use to drink nectar from flowers and steal honey from beehives. Raccoons are their closest family members that dwell in North America.
