- March 18, 2024
A video considered rare by specialists was published this Saturday (17) by Rio Formoso Park. The footage, captured by Edson Sato, shows a giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) swimming across a stretch of crystal-clear water. Watch above.
Although the post mentioned the heatwave currently affecting the region—with thermometers hitting 38ºC and a heat index of 42ºC—to justify the animal’s dip, veterinarian Mario Alves from the ‘Bandeiras e Rodovias’ project explains that this is standard behavior for the species.
“They swim very well from the moment they become independent of their mothers, after six months. It is not very common for someone to manage to see and record it. They are excellent swimmers and climbers,” he adds.
“It is a behavior known to science, although it is not easy to record. They do this within what we call their home range. For them, it is normal to cross the river to explore new environments. They use their thoracic limbs and swim in a doggy-paddle style,” he explained.
