Keepers don't know sex of new Anteater arrival because mum's too fierce

Published on Wednesday 5 August 2009 11:27

IT'S cute and fluffy, but this is one baby even the experts are treating with kid gloves.

The first baby giant anteater to be born at Edinburgh Zoo is an addition the attraction is certain will help draw in the crowds.

But despite the baby being born almost three months ago they still don't know if it's male or female – as keepers are wary of getting too close.

With sharp claws and strong limbs to defend themselves, the giant anteater is extremely dangerous, and also very protective of its young.

They may feed on insects, but in the wild a giant anteater can fight off natural predators such as jaguars and cougars, rearing up on their hind legs and slashing them with sharp claws.

They can also grab their attacker in their powerful arms and crush them.

All of which means Edinburgh staff are taking no chances – especially following the tragic incident in 2007 when a 19-year-old zoo keeper in Argentina was fatally mauled by a giant anteater.

The youngster was a complete surprise for staff at the zoo. They had hoped its parents, brought to the Capital in April from a private collection in Birmingham, would eventually breed.

But there was no indication the animal was pregnant – until it gave birth just a few weeks after arriving.

Alison MacLean, Head Keeper of Carnivores, said: "This birth was particularly exciting for us. Not only is it the first giant anteater to be born at the zoo, we also didn't know if the female was definitely pregnant.

"Mother and baby are both doing really well and have been spending a lot of time in their show den, much to the delight of visitors to the zoo."

Another factor which makes determining gender a problem is that from birth the baby will climb on to its mother's back, and their matching coats mean the youngster is well camouflaged.

While they can walk from birth, the young can sometimes remain clinging to their mothers for up to a year, although staff at the zoo hope to be able to determine the sex of the baby within a few months.

The baby is the latest arrival in what has been a spectacular year for the zoo so far. Last month they announced a record number of flamingo chicks had been born this year, after keepers put in a lot of work to create a special love-nest for the birds.

And staff have also seen the arrival of Leishan, a pygmy hippo.

In April the zoo also welcomed its first baby gelada baboons and they have also seen 43 gentoo penguin chicks and two rockhopper penguin chicks hatched this year, as well as dozens of other animals.

STRANGE-LOOKING CREATURES CHOMP 30,000 INSECTS A DAY

GIANT Anteaters are found in Central and South America, living in dense tropical forests, grasslands and highlands. Their tail provides camouflage, and serves as a sun shade during the day and a blanket at night.

They have quite a small brain but their sense of smell is 40 times better than humans which help them to locate ants and termites. They have poor eyesight but sharp hearing, which allows them to detect a predator approaching.

They rip open ant and termite hills with their powerful claws, push their snouts in and then trap the insects with their sticky tongues. They eat up to 30,000 insects a day.

The species is under threat in the wild due to habitat destruction and hunting.