Animal Facts
Scientific Name
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Range
Central and South America, from Honduras to northern Argentina
Location in the Zoo
South America’s Pantanal
Cool Animal Fact
Giant anteaters are the largest of the four anteater species. They can eat up to 35,000 ants and termites in a day and have no teeth.
How We Help Save Them
- The Zoo provides salaries, training, and expertise for biologists and veterinarians working with wild giant anteaters in Brazil.
- The Zoo provides equipment like camera traps and tracking devices to study and understand giant anteater movement patterns to better protect them in the wild.
Giant Anteater Animal Encounter
Get Up Close with a Giant Anteater
Join us as you step behind the scenes to see one of our famous Pantanal residents up close and personal. Don’t be afraid to get messy as you help our keepers feed our anteaters one of their favorite treats!
During this animal experience you will:
- Go behind the scenes at our hoofstock barn
- Tour the kitchens to see how our keepers provide daily care for our animals
- Have an opportunity to feed an anteater using one of our specially designed puzzle feeders
$125 Member/$150 Non-member (per person)
On Sale Through December 2026
Encounter Details
- All day Zoo admission included for you to explore the Zoo before and after your Animal Encounter.
- This encounter is for all ages. If you have someone under the age of 13, an adult will need to be registered with them.
- This encounter is limited to 6 people per encounter. If you have fewer than six in your party, you may be joined by other registrants, not to exceed the six persons total.
- For the safety and well-being of our animal residents, there is no flash photography allowed in this area. Don’t worry though, we have a special photo moment opportunity planned for you during your encounter that you can share with friends and family.
- Please note: This Encounter involves feeding our Anteaters one of their favorite treats- either avocado or peanut butter. If you or a member of your party have a food allergy, please be aware.
Accessibility:
- Walking and standing for 45 minutes
- Unpaved surfaces including loose dirt and gravel
- Not wheelchair accessible
We are a Zoo for All; if you have an accommodation request, please contact us at education@houstonzoo.org or at 713-533-6739.
More About our Saving Wildlife Efforts
The Houston Zoo partners with the Brazilian Giant Anteater and Highways Project to study how anteaters interact with roads and to come up with safer road-crossing solutions to protect them and many other species by reducing the potential for collisions with vehicles. Last year, we provided support for 92,364 km of highways to be monitored in Brazil to identify ways to protect giant anteaters from getting hit by cars.
