Two new species have have been unveiled at Dublin Zoo, in the form of giant anteaters Junio and Milo, and a six banded armadillo, Ozzy.
The anteaters, Milo, a ten year old female, and Junio, an eight year old male had arrived from Allwetter Zoo in Germany, while Ozzy, a six banded armadillo, aged one, arrived at Dublin Zoo from Germany's Hagenbeck Zoo.
Giant anteaters, who have been classified as "vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List, can weigh more than 40 kg and grow more than 8ft long. Milo and Junio have arrived at Dublin Zoo as a breeding pair.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Dublin Zoo Team Leader, Ciaran McMahon said: “They’re nice and calm, they’ve been mating already – that’s a great sign. We’re really happy to see how this morning has gone".
“We’ve never had this species here before in Dublin Zoo,” Mr McMahon added. “They’ve been together for many years in the zoo in Germany, but we’re getting them used to this habitat here".
Ozzy, is a one year old, six banded armadillo, with the species named after its six moveable bands of armour which are formed from plates of bone covered in keratin scales. The are originally from South America.
While the armadillo is listed as a "least concern" species on the IUCN Red List, six banded armadillos have been threatened from hunters in the wild.
Speaking about these animals, another Dublin Zoo Team Leader, Eddie O'Brien said in his four decades as a zoo keeper, he has never worked with an armadillo, adding that "it's fantastic for us to be working with this new species" (quotes according to RTÉ).
Ozzy is sharing his habitat with the white-faced saki, which is a type of monkey from a similar climate in Brazil, Venezuela, French Guinana, Guyana, and Suriname.
