Exotic pet once made famous by Paris Hilton found abandoned on a road in Washington state

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A small, raccoon-like mammal called a “kinkajou” was rescued earlier this week after it was found climbing a dusty Washington street post. The nocturnal animals are native to the rainforest and were once popularized as an exotic pet by Paris Hilton.

The rescued kinkajou was seen peeking around a wooden sign post at a rest area in East Selah, Yakima County, according to a photo posted to X by the Washington State Department of Transportation on Monday.

The agency said it was not certain whether the kinkajou, also known as a honey bear, had been abandoned there or had escaped, but that it had since been taken to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, where it was given a comprehensive health check.

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A small raccoon-like mammal named Kinkajou was rescued this week after being spotted climbing a dusty traffic pole in Washington state. (Washington State Department of Transportation I SGranitz/WireImage)

“We are awaiting the results of diagnostic tests, including extensive blood work, to obtain a full assessment of his health,” the zoo posted on Facebook along with a short video of the examination.

Chief veterinarian Dr. Karen said the young kinkajou is in fairly good health overall, but is very thin and weighs only 2.5 pounds. He has a good appetite and staff are feeding him a nutritious, healthy diet, the zoo said in the post.

“The survival of this young kinkajou is a testament to the cooperation between the state wildlife agency and the zoo and highlights the dangers of the illegal animal trade,” the post continued.

The zoo said that while kinkajous are not endangered, they are hunted for their fur, meat and the exotic pet trade, threatening their wild population. Their skin is often used to make wallets and horse saddles.

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A tiny tree-hugging kinkajou was rescued this week after being found climbing a dusty traffic pole in Washington. (Washington State Department of Transportation | Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, right.)

Kinkajous live in tropical rainforests from southern Mexico to Brazil. They are small carnivores with prehensile tails that are often mistakenly referred to as primates, the zoo said.

The kinkajou has sandy yellow fur, a round head, large black eyes and a short, pointed snout and short limbs. Adult kinkajous can weigh up to 4.5 kilograms and grow up to 132 centimeters long. They feed on fruits, roots, shoots, nuts and seeds.

“Despite their cuteness, kinkajous do not make good pets,” the zoo said. But that didn’t stop celebrity Hilton from getting one.

The influencer and activist has been photographed in the past with a swaddling toy that she called “Baby Luv.”

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Kinkajou Harley is held by Amy Goodwin, an education specialist for the San Francisco Zoo, during an event at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens at the Willie Woo Woo Wong Chinese Playground on February 17, 2016 in San Francisco. (Leah Millis/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Baby Luv bit Hilton on the arm in 2006, and she went to the hospital where the wound was treated and she was given a tetanus shot.

According to the National Institutes of Health, kinkajou bites require standard tetanus prophylaxis, rabies vaccination, and wound cleaning. In most cases, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent the development of cellulitis or osteomyelitis.

Paris Hilton attends the 2023 LACMA Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 4, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for LACMA)

The zoo said the kinkajou is recovering at the zoo while authorities try to find a permanent home for him.