Giant Anteater Pup Naming
The Public Vote Has Closed, Soon the Pup's Mother Will Choose
Thanks to everyone who voted on a name for our baby giant anteater, born on December 7. The top three vote-getters will move on to round two, and in a twist on our traditional name-the-baby process, keepers will allow the pup’s mother, Maripi, to choose the name of her pup. Polls closed March 28.
On April 6, each of the top three names will be coupled with a different enrichment object and placed in the anteater yard. Maripi will then be released into the yard and whichever object/name she goes to first will become her pup’s new name.
The name choices, provided by keepers and volunteers, are:
- Pablo: One of the most popular boys names in South America, this would suit the playful pup perfectly. Famous Pablos include artist Pablo Picasso and movie director Pablo Ferro. Will the Zoo’s anteater be the next famous Pablo?
- Termito: Meaning “termite.” An anteater’s diet is heavily based on ants and termites. Anteaters use their keen sense of smell to detect termite mounds and anthills and tear them open with their strong claws. They then gather their prey using a two-foot-long tongue covered with very sticky saliva.
- Demetrio: Meaning “of the earth.” Anteaters live in grassland savannas, swamps, humid forests and wetlands. Almost everything they eat is “of the earth.” In addition to ants and termites, giant anteaters also eat ripe fruit that has fallen from the trees and the eggs of ground-nesting birds.
- Fausto: Meaning “lucky.” This anteater pup had somewhat of a rocky start, and his survival is due to strength and luck. Just hours after he was born, keepers found the baby outside of the nest box with a low body temperature while his mother was asleep in the nest. The newborn was taken to the Zoo’s vet hospital, where he received a complete medical evaluation that included a controlled raise of his body temperature. Luckily, he rebounded quickly with the aid of keepers and veterinarians and was soon reunited with his mother where he continues to thrive.
- Valerio: Meaning “to be healthy or strong.” This anteater is one tough guy. He and his mother have settled into a nice routine of eating, sleeping and going out in the yard when it is warm. He continues to grow as expected and is right on target for his age in growth and health.
