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News Bites
The latest noteworthy news from around Brookfield Zoo
and beyond the gates is right at your fingertips.
Talulah
SOUTHERN TAMANDUA
Meet an Animal Fun Facts: Talulah and Pedersen live at Hamill Family Play
PROGRAMS Ambassador Zoo. They are some of the zoo’s only Animal Ambassadors you
can visit at their home—as long as they’re not away visiting
Each issue, we’ll introduce you to one of guests. Talulah and Pedersen are celebrities inside the zoo
Brookfield Zoo’s Animal Ambassadors! and out. They have appeared on WGN News, visited honored
Keep your eyes peeled—you just might run into these guests at our annual Whirl, and even traveled downtown to
fascinating creatures on your next trip to the zoo. Here, Buckingham Fountain.
meet southern tamanduas Talulah and Pedersen.
About Southern Tamanduas: Southern tamanduas are
Typical Day: Talulah and Pedersen wake up in the morning native to South America. They are related to giant anteaters
as their animal care specialists start cleaning their home. and are sometimes called “lesser anteaters” because of their
After their home is tidy, they both receive their daily wellness smaller size. They use their elongated snout and their long,
checkup and a hearty breakfast. Animal care specialists hide sticky tongue—which is more than a foot long—to snag and
wax worms throughout the tamanduas’ habitat to keep their gobble up ants, bees, and termites. Since they don’t have
foraging skills sharp. They also hang toys for them to play with teeth, they crush the insects on the roof of their mouth before
and give them fresh, comfy bedding to nap on. Both Talulah swallowing. Southern tamanduas spend much of the day in
and Pederson regularly participate in Keeper Chats. During trees and use their sharp nails to dig into trees to get to bugs.
warmer weather, they enjoy strolling to Roosevelt Fountain They can grasp tree limbs and steady themselves in trees by
and searching for insects along the way. using their prehensile tail.
6 GATEWAYS | NEWS BITES
