COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens announced the first baby born in 2023, a tamandua, has passed away.
In an update post on Tuesday, the zoo said the pup appeared to be strong, curious and alert but was found unresponsive on Monday. The pup was born on Jan. 5.
“This tiny tamandua pup was already loved and adored by many, as our community had been awaiting its arrival since they learned of Islas pregnancy back in October.”
In the birth announcement, the zoo said the pup’s mom, 9-year-old Isla, had been on birth watch for more than a month.
According to the zoo, Isla showed great maternal instincts during their time together and the two had an obvious bond seen in the form of cuddles, grooming and tiny squeaks from the pup.
The exact cause of death is unknown at this time.
A tamandua, also known as the lesser anteater, is known for using its long snout to sniff out ants, termites and bee colonies. They use their long claws to dig into nests and a long tongue to lick up insects.
