Goodbye, Gizmo!
We’ve waved goodbye to our first ever baby giant anteater, Gizmo, who has headed north for a new adventure!
In preparation for this week’s move to Scotland keepers have spent the last month working with the one-year-old, training her to step inside the wooden transport crate, which they’ve had positioned alongside the anteater house, with the reward of her favourite natural yogurt treat!
And all their hard work paid off as Gizmo’s transfer into the crate ahead of her departure was seamless.
Curator Richard Brown said: “We’ve loved watching Gizmo grow throughout the last 12 months and it’s been a wonderful experience for our keepers.
“We’re extremely proud she will continue to play an important role in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) at her new home, but as our first ever baby giant anteater she’ll always be special to us here at DZC!”
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 destruction.
Gizmo leaves behind parents Lyra and Bubbles who will be reintroduced together again in due course and we hope, will go onto breed again in the future.
