Bonita the giant anteater had a pup at Dortmund Zoo
The zoo's 66th giant anteater was born a few days before a November 3 report. The pup has no name yet, and the house where Bonita is caring for it is closed to visitors.
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A giant anteater pup born at Dortmund Zoo is riding on its mother, Bonita. Stern reported the birth on November 3, 2026, a few days after the pup arrived. The zoo has not named it. A city spokesperson said the sex of a giant anteater cannot be told until weeks after birth, so that is unknown too. Bonita, born at Singapore Zoo, is raising this pup the way she raised her first, a son named Noah, in 2025. Noah now lives on his own in a separate enclosure at Dortmund.
Father Antebus is not with them. Giant anteaters live alone, and only the mother cares for the young, so the zoo separated the pair before the birth. The Tamandua house, where Bonita and the pup are staying, is closed to visitors while they rest. The zoo has not said when people will be able to see them. This is the 66th giant anteater born at Dortmund. The news is this pup. It is not a count of giant anteaters in Central and South America, where the species lives.
For the classroom
A giant anteater pup was born at Dortmund Zoo in Germany. Stern reported it on November 3, 2026. The mother is Bonita. The pup does not have a name yet, and keepers do not know yet if it is male or female. Bonita is caring for the pup, which rides on her back. The father, Antebus, lives apart, because mothers raise the young alone. Bonita's first pup, Noah, was born in 2025. This pup is the 66th giant anteater born at the zoo. Visitors cannot see the pair yet, because their house is closed while they rest.
- Why might a zoo keep a new pup and its mother away from visitors at first?
- What is one thing a baby anteater does that a human baby does not?
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Dortmund, GermanyZoosWildlife conservationGood news on November 3
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