And Much More

Giant Anteater Exhibit
At a glance:
Collaborators:  Yoder & Tidwell
Location:  Tropical America Exhibit
Pacesetter gift:  The Janci Foundation
Timeframe and budget: Grand opening August 4, 2007

Details:
In Summer 2007, Roger Williams Park Zoo opened its Giant Anteater exhibit in Tropical America.  Located right outside the Tropical America building.

The largest species of anteater in the world, the Giant Anteater measures up to seven feet long from snout to the tip of its tail and can weigh up to 80 pounds.  But the truly unique thing about this animal is, of course, its diet.  Using its long snout and two-foot tongue (the largest in relation to its body size than any other animal), the Giant Anteater can devour up to 35,000 insects per day!

The exhibit has helped to revitalize the entire Tropical America area. It features a lush outdoor habitat, complete with a shallow pool and plenty of tropical-style plants.  A variety of close-up viewing areas surround the exhibit, including a walk-in “termite mound.”    

Small structures designed in the style of a South American village complement the exhibit.  One, called the “Anteater Cantina,” serves as an education station where visitors can learn more about how tropical rainforests fit into the planet’s ecosystem and how different feeding adaptations, like the anteater’s long snout and tongue, help animals to thrive in varied environments.
                                                                                
Learn more fascinating facts about the Giant Anteater