Space for a Giant Anteater

February 28, 2006 5:45 PM

How much space (in square feet) does a giant anteater need?

This is in the context of say an anteater exhibit. This is hypothetical--I'm not
really going to capture a giant anteater.

I've found that they like about a square mile to roam around in in the wild, but of course that would pretty much out of the question for an exhibit.

I need a reference, with the following constraint: if the information comes from a website, then the domain must be either .gov, .org, or .edu.

posted by iconjack to Pets & Animals (15 answers total)

You could contact the London Zoo. They have one, and when we visited there I was astounded that such a large animal was in such a small space.
posted by briank at 5:49 PM on February 28, 2006

The 7-acre Puente al Sur (Bridge to the South) re-creates habitats in South America, replete with a giant anteater, tapir, and a capybaras.

Spanning over three acres-Tropics of the Americas will immerse zoo guests into the animals, plants, and culture of a New World Rainforest. Visitors will encounter many rare animals such as jaguars, monkeys, giant anteaters, tapirs, bats, colorful birds, snakes and more!
posted by jjoye at 5:55 PM on February 28, 2006

Well, if you really want to know, you'll need the Anteater Husbandry Manual. It seems this was written by Michael Flint at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson. You can reach hiim at:

Giant Anteater Husbandry Manual
Michael Flint (1998).
Reid Park Zoo, 1100 S. Randolph Way, Tucson, AZ 85716, USA.
Phone: + 1 520 791 3204
Fax: + 1 520 791 5378
E-mail: [e-mail]
AZA
ISIS

This is from here.

Also, Anteater Online
posted by metaculpa at 6:14 PM on February 28, 2006

if the information comes from a website, then the domain must be either .gov, .org, or .edu

You know that .org doesn't really mean anything any more, right?
posted by dersins at 6:14 PM on February 28, 2006

You know that .org doesn't really mean anything any more, right?
Only time I've seen restrictions like that was on homework research, so I guess the teacher is worried he'd be getting information from someone trying to sell, um... anteater enclosures, I guess.
posted by luftmensch at 6:27 PM on February 28, 2006

You know that .org doesn't really mean anything any more, right?

What?!? You mean my weblog is a non-conforming use! I'm shocked!

I think this is one of the best AskMe questions I have ever seen. "Space for a Giant Anteater" — that's gold!
posted by jdroth at 7:25 PM on February 28, 2006

Agreed... best question ever asked here.
posted by Robot Johnny at 7:43 PM on February 28, 2006

An outdoor enclosure of at least 150 m² is required per pair, and there must be indoor enclosures of 20 m² for each adult animal. Indoors, a minimum temperature of 15°C should be maintained. The animals should have access to the outdoor enclosure and to a pool all year round. The outdoor enclosure should have natural soil covered with grass. Alternatively sand may be used as a substrate. The floor of the indoor facilities should be resistant and smooth. Bedding or floor heating should be provided.

-- www.waza.org
posted by gubo at 9:01 PM on February 28, 2006

I (too?) just flagged this as fantastic. It made me think about anteaters, and whether or not they need to move around a lot, and how big they actually are. Do they need shade or decoration? Hmmm....
posted by easternblot at 9:03 PM on February 28, 2006

I thought it was common knowledge that the myrmecophages went metric eons ago!
posted by rob511 at 9:04 PM on February 28, 2006

Oops, yes, 150 square meters is about 1615 square feet. 20 m² is about 215 sq. ft. (And 15°C is 59°F.)
posted by gubo at 9:17 PM on February 28, 2006

AskMetafilter: Big Enough for a Giant Anteater!
posted by zaelic at 9:19 AM on March 1, 2006

I just have to say I love anteaters to bits and it cheered me up at the end of a crappy day to read this question. I write stories about intelligent space-faring anteaters who build themselves palaces out of monstrous termite mounds. (What else would a genetically engineered giant termite build?) I recommend that your hypothetical anteaters receive one palace each.

Maybe you'll find this interesting (it's about an anteater kept in a home, not an exhibit):

Page 1
Page 2 (top), Page 2 (bottom)
Page 3 (top), Page 3 (bottom)

Good luck!
posted by Marit at 7:55 PM on March 1, 2006

I think this question would be better if it were about giant anteaters in space.
posted by borkingchikapa at 9:41 PM on March 1, 2006

If it was up to me ... I'd give him all the space he wants.
posted by lester at 9:26 PM on March 2, 2006