Giant Bubble at Blackpool Zoo!

Blackpool Zoo continues with its celebration of bubbles with one of its newest and most unusual looking families!

Two became three when Andina and Eskil, the zoo’s Giant Anteaters, became proud parents at the start of June during the zoo’s temporary closure.

Both are them are nine years old and the youngster can now be seen hitching a ride round its paddock on its mother’s back!

Although the species is called the Giant Anteater the pup weighed just 2kg when it was born and was 50cm long from the tip of its impressive snout to the end of its already magnificent bushy tail!

Keepers are still waiting to find out if the pup is a boy or a girl as they are leaving the mother to rear it naturally.

With eye-catching black and white diagonal stripes on dense, shaggy hair the giant anteater family bubble certainly stands out from the crowd.

Gavin Clunie, Section Head of Large Mammals at Blackpool Zoo, said: “The early part of this year was very strange at the zoo as we have never seen it empty on such gloriously sunny days.

“This new little one, which was born in early June gave all the staff and keepers a real boost and Andina is doing a wonderful job of looking after him or her.

“The baby will stay on the mother’s back for around six to 12 months and, due to its unique markings, it can be difficult to see it at first.

“When visitors returned, they were really excited to see the unusual looking addition and the baby has become a firm favourite very quickly!”

Giant anteaters hail from the swamps, grasslands and humid forests of areas from Southern Belize to northern Argentina and they are the last living species to have evolved on South America when it was an isolated continent.

 The species is the most threatened in South America and in some parts of the continent there has not been a sighting for many years.

Blackpool Zoo is Covid-secure and has a wide range of measures in place to keep visitors, staff and animals safe. 

It is adhering to all Tier 3 rules and guidance and it is each visitor's responsibility to ensure that they also abide by any additional restrictions that may be in place in their local area, specifically regarding socialising with those outside their household and travel.

Visitor numbers will be limited each day and it is advisable to book online to avoid disappointment.