Javier the giant anterater
was found orphaned in Paraguay. He was cared for at a field research
center before coming to our ranch. Though anteaters lack teeth Javier's
long sharp claws more than make up for his defense. They are known
to be capable of disembowling a jaguar with a swing of the forearm
using their back legs and tail as a tripod for support. For exercise,
Javier likes to lope around the ranch and rip bark off the trees to
look for ants, termites, and bugs. He sleeps with his head tucked
under his belly and his tail folded over his body like a blanket.
His bed is a water trough filled with straw. In the wild anteaters
can consume over 30,000 termites every day but in captivity they slurp
up a gruel of blended nutrients using their 24 inch long tongues.
Anteaters are good swimmers and Javier loves bath time and his swimming
pool in warm weather.
