Rare giant anteater born at Chester Zoo

Clinging tightly to its mother’s back, this baby giant anteater looks comfortable in its new surroundings at Chester Zoo.

The tiny youngster, whose gender is not yet known and is yet to be named, is only the second of the species to be born at the conservation charity.

Only just a few days old, the cute creature will spend the next six months leaning on its mother until it can fend for itself.

With anteaters known to hoover up an average of 30,000 ants in one day, it wont be too long before the youngster starts to grow.

Parents Pedro and Bliss, both aged three, arrived in 2010 as part of an international breeding programme.

‘Bliss is a very good mum and is so far doing an excellent job of looking after her new arrival,’ explained team manager David White.

‘She’s obviously very proud of her newborn and has, every now and again, been parading around and showing off to our visitors.

‘Seeing the youngster clinging on tightly to her tail is quite the sight!’

The Central and South American natives are classed as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction by conservationists and so the birth is good news for the unusual looking species.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/08/rare-giant-anteater-born-at-chester-zoo-3343673/