South American coati (Coati) – Nasua nasua

The native range of the South American coati covers large parts of South America from Columbia to Venezuela, the northern parts of Uruguay and northern Argentina. The species has been introduced on two islands in Chile (Robinson Crusoe, Juan Fernandez).

In the UK, individuals have been found on a few occasions outside zoological parks, but the species has not been observed to have reproduced in the wild.

The coati has also been found on the island of Majorca (Balearic Islands), for the first time in 2004. By 2008, 12 coatis had been captured in the wild. These individuals are assumed to be abandoned pets. Sales of coati were banned in pet shops on the island in 2012.

Pathways and adaptation in Finland

The population closest to Finland is in Mallorca, so it is unlikely that the species will spread to our country on its own. No coatis are known to be kept as pets in Finland. The coati is unlikely to survive in the Finnish climate.