The Denver Zoo can change that. Zoo tamandua Rio is pregnant -- thanks in no small part to her mate, Quito. Tamanduas are a species of anteater native to South America that sport sixteen-inch tongues that they use to, well, eat ants. That's an important fact to know when it comes to Rio's ultrasound, as it seems from the video below that the zoo's veterinarians used a long glass tube filled with creepy crawlies to distract Rio from the fact that she was at the tamandua-OB/GYN.
Here are more details and photos, courtesy of the zoo.
Denver Zoo southern tamandua Rio is pregnant and receiving top prenatal care by animal and veterinary staff. The normally energetic anteater is taking it easy behind the scenes in the zoo's Gates Animal Housing center as zookeepers tend to her health. After Rio's latest ultrasound, veterinarians now believe she will give birth around March. This will be the first birth for Rio and her mate, Quito. Neither is ever on exhibit, but rather they are very popular animals in the zoo's Education collection, which provides opportunities for up-close, animal encounters for programs like outreach visits and VIP tours. To minimize activity for the duration of her pregnancy, though, Rio will not travel away from the zoo.
Rio was born in November 2004 at Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas. Quito was born in August 2012 at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona. The two were paired under recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) which ensures healthy populations and genetic diversity among zoo animals. Fortunately, the couple has proved to be an excellent match. Tamanduas are born following a 130-150 day gestation period. As her expected birth date approaches, zookeepers will provide Rio with a nest box that will let her feel safe, yet still allow zookeepers to monitor her status. Veterinarians regularly perform ultrasound examinations to measure the head and body size of the new baby as well as checking both the mother and baby's body condition.Continue for more about Rio's pregnancy, including another photo and a video.
Zookeepers have also begun to slowly increase Rio's diet based on her needs. For instance, once a day Rio is usually fed 210 grams of high fiber, leaf-eater biscuits and 30 grams of mealworms, while 20 grams worth of earthworms are hidden around her enclosure for enrichment purposes to provide mental and physical stimulation. In the last week, zookeepers upped her biscuit intake by 20 grams.Watch a video of Rio's ultrasound below.Southern tamanduas are a species of anteater, often called lesser anteaters. They inhabit South America, east of the Andes, from Venezuela to Argentina and Uruguay. Their habitat ranges from savanna and thorn scrub to rainforests and they are well adapted to life both in trees and on the ground. In the wild they use tongues that can reach 16 inches to feed on insects such as termites and ants.
Although they are widespread, they are uncommon. They are hunted for the strong tendons in their tails, from which rope is made. Hunters often kill tamanduas, claiming they are killing their dogs, but they are really hunted for their meat. They can also be hit by cars. Tamanduas are vulnerable due to loss of habitat and human pest control, which has reduced the populations of termites and ants.
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