Buffalo Zoo welcomes new male giant anteater, Tupi

Buffalo Zoo Press Release & Photos

The Buffalo Zoo is excited to announce the arrival and debut of Tupi, a 7-year-old male giant anteater who came to the venue on Oct. 28.

Tupi was born July 30, 2018, at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, and later moved to the Nashville Zoo in November 2020. He is now settling into his new home in Buffalo, where he will play an important role in the conservation of his species.

As part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding recommendation, Tupi will be paired with the Buffalo Zoo’s resident female giant anteater, Maria. While Tupi has not yet sired any offspring, the zoo’s animal care and conservation teams are hopeful this pairing will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the species.

With giant anteaters producing only one pup per year, carefully managed breeding programs like the SSP are critical to their survival.

Giant anteaters are currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated 5,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Their population continues to decline due to habitat loss, hunting, and vehicle strikes. Anteaters are especially susceptible to road collisions because of their poor vision, slow movement, and nocturnal behavior. Conservation efforts in their native range are exploring solutions such as wildlife corridors with highway underpasses and overpasses to help reduce these threats.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Tupi and to continue our work educating and celebrating this remarkable species,” Buffalo Zoo President and CEO Lisa Smith said. “This pairing with Maria represents an important step in supporting the long-term sustainability of giant anteaters, and we’re excited for guests to meet him.”

Tupi image courtesy of the Buffalo Zoo.

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Giant anteaters are the largest of the four anteater species, growing 6 to 8 feet long and weighing between 60 and 100 pounds. They are easily recognized by their long snouts and 2-foot-long tongues, which can flick in and out up to 150 times per minute. Using powerful claws, they rip open ant and termite nests, making insects almost their exclusive diet. Native to Central and South America, giant anteaters can live in both tropical rainforests and arid grasslands, as long as sufficient food is available.

Guests can see Tupi in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls during regular Buffalo Zoo hours. For more information, visit www.buffalozoo.org or follow the Buffalo Zoo on social media.

Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo is a 501(c)(3) organization and is the third-oldest zoo in the U.S. Each year, the Buffalo Zoo welcomes nearly 400,000 visitors and is among the most visited tourist attractions in Western New York. Located on 23.5 acres of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, the site provides interactive and educational family experiences throughout the year. With a diverse collection of over 800 wild and exotic animals and more than 320 different species of plants, visitors are introduced to and inspired by nature each time they visit.

For more information, visit www.buffalozoo.org.