Last year, Sky and Rita gave birth to a total of 8 kits!

Brace yourselves…for some extra cuteness coming to our Rainforest Revealed loop! We recently learned that two of our white-nosed coatis, Sky and Rita, are expecting kits this April. 

This exciting news is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan to support the population of white-nosed coatis in its accredited organizations. Over the years, our Zoo has worked hard to establish a breeding population of coatis; This includes bringing in coatis from other facilities and deeply understanding which social dynamics come into play for successful breeding, according to our director of animal programs and white-nosed coati AZA studbook manager Lauren Hinson. 

And last year, Rita and Sky welcomed the first coati births in a North American AZA-accredited facility in 7 years! 

Because this is our second time around with coati pregnancies, we are well prepared to welcome the upcoming babies! Our keepers regularly train our adult female coatis to receive voluntary ultrasounds using a “target” to mimic the feeling of an ultrasound wand with the help of treats, of course! This has provided much ease for our veterinary staff as they perform checkups on the mothers. 

Our veterinary technician Felicia checks on Rita’s babies via ultrasound while keeper Anna rewards the coati with treats!

“I’d like to give a shoutout to keepers Grace and Anna, who were training the moms for ultrasounds,” said Rainforest Revealed curator Sidnee Helton. “I’m so excited we get to see Sky and Rita be moms again!” 

Not only does this voluntary training help our veterinary team out, but it also reinforces trust and bonding between keepers and the coatis.

The 2-year-old coatis have now shifted to behind-the-scenes habitats for some peace and quiet as they prepare to give birth. Our animal care team keeps the moms-to-be separate from each other and the rest of the band during this period, as coati mothers naturally prefer solitude. 

Each habitat is complete with bedding, nesting material and nest boxes to ensure Sky and Rita feel safe and relaxed ahead of giving birth. We use cameras to give the mothers privacy while still monitoring for signs of labor. When the moment comes, our team is ready to offer around-the-clock care to the mothers and their newborn kits before they return to the band at around 6 weeks old. 

For now, there is no cap on how many coatis our Zoo can handle, as we have many suitable spaces within our habitats for the band to live. In the future, we plan to send last year’s kits to other AZA-accredited zoos to continue supporting the species’ population. 

Stay tuned to our blog and social media channels for updates on the births! 

Special thanks to Flammio Financial Group, Stifel-Garvin Wealth Management Group, Artemis IT, and Jim and Darleen Barfield. Their generosity makes our work possible! 

Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.