Kinkajou escapes Tilburg zoo to explore nearby garden, giving residents a fright

A kinkajou, a raccoon-sized predator originally from South America, caused a tiny uproar in Tilburg when it decided to escape the zoo and go on an adventure. Residents of a home on Thomas van Aquinostraat were enjoying a quiet evening when they suddenly saw the strangest shadow on their jacuzzi, Omroep Brabant reports.

Looking out of the window, they saw a large beast with a long tail sniffing around their garden. Not knowing what they were seeing, they quietly locked the door, closed the windows, and called the animal ambulance to come and take a look.

The animal ambulance arrived very quickly and started looking for the monkey-like creature the residents described. After hearing a noise, the animal ambulance worker got a good look at the critter - a kinkajou. Because it is such a strange animal, they contacted the nearby zoo, De Oliemeulen.

The zoo investigated and found that it was indeed missing one of its kinkajous. It sent a worker to the home to retrieve it. Armed with a flashlight, the zoo employee finally tracked the critter down in the paper container, snoozing under a pile of paper. The animal reportedly had opened the lid of the paper bin itself and climbed in for a little break from its epic expedition.

The zoo employee captured the kinkajou and returned it to its habitat, where its buddy was waiting. Both kinkajous were treated to some honey while they calmed down from the adventure.

The zoo is investigating how the critter got out.