Newborn anteater hitches ride on its mom’s neck

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

The adorable moment a newborn anteater hitched a lift on its proud mom’s long neck has been captured at Dudley Zoo.

The baby is the first anteater ever to be born in the zoo’s 85 year history.

Zookeepers were stunned when they discovered the baby after it was born on January 17 to parents Lyra and Bubbles.

Cute footage shows the tiny baby getting a guided tour of its new enclosure while clinging onto the back of proud mom Lyra.

Zoo Curator Richard Brown, said: “The first baby anteater in our zoo history is fabulous news, especially as we’re marking such a milestone anniversary year.

“Lyra is coping well with first-time motherhood and the pup, who’s yet to be sexed, also appears healthy and alert.

“We’re sure visitors will be as excited to see our new arrival as staff are.

“The arrival of a baby certainly makes all the hard work of bringing rare animals together worthwhile and hopefully in time, the youngster will be able to move on to another collection and form their own partnership and hopefully have a family of their own.”

Three-year-old Lyra arrived from Yorkshire Wildlife Park less than a year ago to mate with the site’s four-year-old male Bubbles.

The project was part of a European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) and resulted in a first for Dudley Zoo.

Anteaters are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the species, which is native to Central and South America, is under threat, mainly due to habitat loss.