December 3 is World Coati Day.
The coati (Nasua) is a genus of carnivorous mammals from the raccoon family – inhabitants of Central and South America.
Coatis are an extremely important component of the ecosystem, as they act as small greeners in their habitat, dispersing seeds from the fruits and nuts they eat. They control insect populations in their habitats, and also contribute to soil improvement by turning and fertilizing the soil with their waste to promote the growth of new plants.
World Coati Day began with the voice of the founder of the holiday, and now has the support of several zoos and aquariums, universities, a number of organizations, bloggers and many people.
Mykolaiv Zoo keeps the South American coati (Nasua nasua).
These omnivorous animals live in the tropical regions of South America from Colombia and Venezuela to Uruguay, the northern parts of Argentina and Ecuador. In addition, they are often found on the slopes of the Andes at an altitude of up to 2,500 meters. They settle mainly in forested areas.
Unfortunately, this species is becoming increasingly rare due to a number of reasons – a decrease in the area of wildlife suitable for coati habitat; hunting for meat and fur (locals consider the coati an aphrodisiac); trapping for the trade in these exotic animals (the South American coati, unfortunately, is the most common coati kept by enthusiasts as a pet). Oddly enough, the development of tourism has a very negative effect on the state of the coati population – animals that are fed by tourists are increasingly taking to the roads in search of food, and many of them die under the wheels.
On World Coati Day, the founders of the campaign suggest transferring funds to the accounts of the reserves where these animals live, supporting the parks where they are kept, or simply spreading knowledge about this interesting animal. Join this important campaign!
