SF Zoo welcomes birth of giant anteater
This file photo provided by the Smithsonian's National Zoo shows the zoo’s six-week-old anteater, Aurora, riding on her mother’s back, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 at the zoo in Washington. The San Francisco Zoo welcomed their first giant anteater born at the zoo in the last 10 years on Dec. 22. (AP file photo)
This file photo provided by the Smithsonian's National Zoo shows the zoo’s six-week-old anteater, Aurora, riding on her mother’s back, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 at the zoo in Washington. The San Francisco Zoo welcomed their first giant anteater born at the zoo in the last 10 years on Dec. 22. (AP file photo)
The San Francisco Zoo welcomed the first giant anteater born at the zoo in a decade on Dec. 22, zoo officials said.
The 2-year-old mother is a first-time mom. The father, 12-year-old Angelo, also fathered the zoo’s last giant anteater, born in 2001.
The new baby will ride on its mother’s back for about one year.
Adult anteaters can grow up to 8 feet long, not including their tail, according to the zoo.
Wild anteaters can eat up to 30,000 ants per day, zoo officials said.
The anteater family will not be on display while the pair adjusts to the new baby. Zoo officials will notify the public when the anteaters are on exhibit again.
