Coatis at Iguazu Falls: why not to feed them and what to do

Quick answer: Do not feed the coatis at Iguazu Falls, on either side of the border. Feeding makes them dependent, overweight and more aggressive, and contact can spread disease through a bite or scratch. Keep your snack zipped inside your backpack, watch from a distance, and if a coati comes close, step away calmly without running.

What a coati is

The coati (Nasua nasua) is a mammal native to the Atlantic Forest, with a long snout and a ringed tail, that moves in bands along the trails. In the wild it eats fruit, insects, worms, roots and small animals, and it helps the forest by spreading seeds. At the falls it became a familiar sight because it learned one thing: a tourist's backpack almost always has food inside.

Why you should not feed them

Human food is bad for coatis. Refined flour and sugar cause obesity and digestive problems, and animals have been recorded swallowing the plastic wrapping from a sandwich. When fed by hand, the band gathers in large numbers, and that crowding leads to fights, close contact and injuries among them. The animal also loses its fear and starts lunging for food.

For you, the risk is a bite or a scratch. Researchers at Iguazú National Park warn about zoonoses (diseases that pass from animals to people), such as toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis, plus the risk of rabies, spread by a bite, scratch or lick. Tourists have needed treatment at the park infirmary after being bitten while offering food.

The rule applies on both sides

Not feeding is an official rule on both riverbanks. On the Brazilian side, Iguaçu National Park (ICMBio) advises: "Do not feed the animals. Watch them from a distance," and asks for extra care with coatis while you eat. Feeding wildlife in a protected area is an environmental offense — Brazil's federal Decree 6.514/2008 sets a fine of R$ 500 to R$ 10,000 for conduct that breaks the park's rules. On the Argentine side, Iguazú National Park runs the "Tu comida me mata" (Your food kills me) campaign and built enclosed dining areas, because signs alone were not enough to stop the feeding.

What to do if a coati comes close

Relax: three steps handle almost everything.

• Keep your snack zipped inside your backpack or bag. A coati sniffs it out and pushes its snout into an open bag.
• Do not run or make sudden movements. Step back slowly and leave the path clear.
• Do not touch it, pick it up or lean in for a photo. Shoot from a distance, using zoom.

Eat in the marked areas, carry your trash back out, and watch the band from afar. That way you protect yourself and help the coati stay wild, doing its job in the forest.