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| © Provided by Hearst Communications, Inc The Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo has a new baby: this 6.6 pound Giant anteater, now several weeks old, shown hugging a stuffed animal during the routine weigh-in process. It has yet to be named. |
By Joe DeAndrea, Connecticut Post
The giant anteater population got another boost this summer thanks to parents EO and Pana at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport.
The giant anteater population got another boost this summer thanks to parents EO and Pana at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport.
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| © Provided by Hearst Communications, Inc The Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo has a new baby: this 6.6 pound Giant anteater, now several weeks old, shown hugging a stuffed animal during the routine weigh-in process. It has yet to be named. |
On July 30, the proud mom and dad gave birth to their second offspring after a 175-day gestation period—a male who is currently weighing in at a healthy nine pounds. Both of the nine-year-old anteaters came to Connecticut from Palm Beach Zoo in Palm Beach, Florida with the intention on creating more youngers; their first offspring, Mochilla, resides in a zoo in Louisiana.
"Our fingers were crossed that our giant anteaters would repeat having another youngster, and we couldn't be happier that the breeding was successful a second time," Zoo Director Gregg Dancho said in a press release. "We encourage everyone to follow the baby's growth and progress on our Facebook and Instagram pages until the baby is a bit larger."
While the baby continues to gain strength, its days will mostly be spent in seclusion in close proximity to its mother with occasional trips outdoors. Meanwhile, the father will stay away until the bond between them grows more.
For those interested in knowing when the family will be available for viewing in the zoo, the baby will alternate with Pana and EO in their exhibit starting in the fall.
"Our fingers were crossed that our giant anteaters would repeat having another youngster, and we couldn't be happier that the breeding was successful a second time," Zoo Director Gregg Dancho said in a press release. "We encourage everyone to follow the baby's growth and progress on our Facebook and Instagram pages until the baby is a bit larger."
While the baby continues to gain strength, its days will mostly be spent in seclusion in close proximity to its mother with occasional trips outdoors. Meanwhile, the father will stay away until the bond between them grows more.
For those interested in knowing when the family will be available for viewing in the zoo, the baby will alternate with Pana and EO in their exhibit starting in the fall.
