The happy Coati keeper

I have no idea if this is the right category. The point of this picture is to show how happy the two are interacting...if you think it should go somewhere else just tell me.

I happened to walk by the Cotais at feeding time, and the keeper was in the enclosure. He and this Coati were having such a great time playing together. while I walked up he was tickling it's belly and it was kicking it's feet in delight like a small child. The keeper was laughing, and the entire time looked glad to be doing his job.

It might be fun to be a zoo keeper for one of the 'big bill' animals; lions, tigers, bears(oh my) or something like that, but you wouldn't get to do this with them. Keepers of predatory animals are never allowed to touch their critters. I dont know if I could do it. I would want to cuddle.

Coati are in the raccoon family, and mostly eat insects. Females are social and live in somewhat large groups. This one normally has a friend, but I didn't see it today.