Roger Williams Park Zoo Announces Birth of Southern Tamandua

PROVIDENCE, RI (June 6, 2022) Roger Williams Park Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of a Southern tamandua to mom Carina and dad Salvador. Born on May 6, the family resides in the Faces of the Rainforest habitat. This companion pairing was based on a recommendation from the AZA Southern Tamandua Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Program to establish and maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population. Keepers have yet to decide a name for the tamandua pup.

The Zoo’s animal care staff and veterinary team continue to monitor mom and baby, performing daily weigh-ins and wellness checks to ensure healthy development.

The pup continues to bond with mom behind-the-scenes before they begin to make public appearances in their rainforest habitat. Until then, we encourage friends to follow the Zoo on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the pup’s progress.

Meet the Southern Tamandua

The Southern tamandua, also called the lesser anteater, is the arboreal relative of the anteater. Native to South America they use their sharp claws and prehensile tails to climb trees and grip branches. Tamanduas do not have teeth, but their 16-inch-long sticky tongue enables them to lick up insects. A single tamandua can eat up to 9,000 ants in a single day!

Roger Williams Park Zoo is Rhode Island’s number one outdoor family and tourist attraction, and a leader in conservation efforts undertaken by a zoo of its size. As leaders in conservation and animal care – we create engaging experiences that empower guests to join us in conserving wildlife and wild places. Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is owned by the City of Providence.

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