Anteater Pup Can Be Seen Hitching Ride On Mother At Brookfield Zoo
(CBS) – It's called a giant anteater, but for now, the baby version born at Brookfield Zoo is pretty small.
The one-month-old female pup can now be seen making the rounds while riding on the back of her mom, Tulum in the "Tropic World: South America" exhibit on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. The little one doesn't have a name yet.
It's the first time an anteater has been born at the Brookfield Zoo, and is the result of a successful breeding initiative begun last year, the Brookfield Zoological Society said in a news release Friday.
For several months, the pup is expected to be hitching a ride on mom. At about four months of age, the young anteater will walk besides her mother but may occasionally climb onto her back. When Tulum sleeps, she covers the pup with her large tail.
Researchers estimate only about 5,000 giant anteaters remain in the wild. There are about 100 in North American zoos, including Brookfield Zoo.