San Diego Zoo Welcomes New Giant Anteater

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Zoo has welcomed a new resident: a giant anteater named Laura Garcia.

The 12-year-old female arrived as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which helps protect threatened and endangered species.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is working to protect giant anteaters and their native habitats through its Amazonia Conservation Hub. It is estimated that only 5,000 giant anteaters are left in the wilderness, according to the organization, which operates the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's conservation genetics team recently, for the first time, was able to determine the sex of a giant anteater using a non-invasive genetic-based test. By extracting DNA from just a few hairs, researchers target portions of the genome found in both males and females, and only in males. This breakthrough adds to the lab's portfolio of genetic services which directly support the management of species both in human care and in the wild.

Over the next few weeks, Laura Garcia will be exploring her new habitat, as well as Orion, a 10-year-old male giant anteater who already calls the zoo home. Visitors can see Laura Garcia and Orion at the giant anteater habitat, located just under the Skyfari West exit ramp at the zoo.