Fully Furred Baby Giant Anteater Born At Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

Information from Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo:

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a baby Giant Anteater on August 27th. This occasion marks the fourth time this threatened species has been born at the zoo, a significant milestone in the zoo’s conservation efforts.

Two adult Giant Anteaters call Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo’s Pampas Plains home. The female, Pana, and the male, EO, were born in 2009 and just had their fourth baby together at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo! The baby and mother are in excellent condition. Weighing 1.8 kilograms (3.96 pounds) at its first exam, the baby anteater was born with fur matching its mother, Pana, making them appear as one to help with camouflage. Pana, an experienced mother, is doing well as she cares for her fourth pup.

The pup was born fully furred and is identical to the adult in appearance. The offspring stays with the mother, sometimes riding on her back for up to a year. Offspring are weaned within a few months of birth but may stay with the mother for up to two years or until the mother becomes pregnant again.

Giant Anteaters are the largest species in the anteater family, growing up to seven feet long and weighing as much as 100 pounds. The birth of this baby not only represents a major achievement for the zoo, but also highlights its ongoing commitment to educating the public on the importance of biodiversity and species preservation.

“We are thrilled to welcome this baby Giant Anteater to our zoo family,” said Gregg Dancho, Zoo Director Emeritus. “This birth is a vital step forward in the mission to protect and preserve wildlife and offers a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about vulnerable and endangered species while watching them grow and thrive right here at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.”

Pana’s pregnancy was carefully tracked by zoo staff, who observed a significant weight increase in August. This monitoring, along with the knowledge of the species' six-month gestation period, helped the team anticipate the birth. Zoo staff continue to closely monitor the baby’s progress and look forward to identifying the anteater’s sex in the coming weeks. Public viewing will be determined by how well Pana and baby are doing. The zoo hopes to introduce them to the main yard by the end of the month in September.

About Giant Anteaters

• Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is home to two Giant Anteaters: female Pana and male EO.
• Giant Anteaters are classified as "vulnerable," with fewer than 5,000 remaining in the wild, and are extinct in some countries.
• These solitary animals give birth to one pup per year. The pups are born fully furred and look just like adults.
• Giant Anteaters can grow up to seven feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds.
• They are “edentate” animals, meaning they have no teeth.
• A Giant Anteater's tongue can be as long as two feet and can flick up to 160 times per minute, helping them feed on ants, termites, and other insects.

For more information, visiting hours, and other zoo attractions, please visit www.beardsleyzoo.org.