Tupi, a giant anteater, joins Buffalo Zoo to aid in conservation efforts.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tupi, A seven-year-old male giant anteater, has made Buffalo his new home.

RELATED: From Niagara Falls to Pittsburgh: How one penguin is helping a national species survival effort

According to the Buffalo Zoo, Tupi was born on July 30, 2018 at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and was later transferred to the Nashville Zoo in November 2020. On October 28, he was brought to the Buffalo Zoo, where he will help conservation efforts to protect his species. 

As part of a Species Survival Plan breeding recommendation, Tupi will be paired with Maria, the zoo’s female giant anteater resident in the zoo’s Rainforest Falls exhibit.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Tupi and to continue our work educating and celebrating this remarkable species,” said Buffalo Zoo President and CEO Lisa Smith. “This pairing with Maria represents an important step in supporting the long-term sustainability of giant anteaters, and we’re excited for guests to meet him.”

Giant anteaters are the largest of the four anteater species and can grow six to eight feet long and weigh as much as 100 pounds. The zoo says they’re easily recognized by their long snouts and two-foot-long tongues.

Guests can now see Tupi in the zoo’s Rainforest Falls during normal business hours. For more information, visit Buffalo Zoo’s website.