Giant Anteater

The Giant Anteater is one of the most singular-looking animals in the world — a long tubular snout, bushy flag-like tail, and powerful foreclaws that can tear through concrete-hard termite mounds. At Zoo Miami in Richmond West, watching one move through its enclosure with that rolling, knuckle-walking gait is immediately captivating. Native to Central and South America, the giant anteater is vulnerable in the wild due to habitat loss. Zoo Miami's specimen offers visitors a rare chance to see this prehistoric-looking creature up close and to understand why protecting South American grasslands and savannas matters.