Nashville Zoo Welcomes Giant Anteater Pup
Families who visit the zoo can now see Mateo, a pup weighing just over four pounds born September 17.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Wildlife
The Nashville Zoo welcomed a male giant anteater pup named Mateo, born September 17. He is the first giant anteater pup born at the zoo in five years.
Why it matters
The birth marks a continuation of the zoo's long-running giant anteater breeding work, which is tied to a national conservation program. For Nashville families, it is a local reason to visit the zoo's animal collection.
Mateo weighs just over four pounds and is the 27th pup born at the Zoo since its breeding program began in 2001. The Zoo's giant anteater collection now includes nine animals, the largest in human care in the country.
The players
Nashville Zoo
A Nashville institution known for its large giant anteater collection and its participation in national breeding programs.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
A national accrediting body whose Species Survival Plan coordinates breeding programs among member zoos.
The details
Anteaters climb onto their mother's backs immediately after birth, and Mateo rides on his mother Isbel's back. Nashville Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan breeding program, which coordinates breeding among accredited zoos to sustain animal populations. The program's coordination is what allows a single zoo to contribute to the broader population of giant anteaters in human care.
Timeline
2001: The Zoo's giant anteater breeding program is founded.
September 17: Mateo is born at Nashville Zoo.
Five years prior: The last giant anteater pup is born at the Zoo.
The Home Front
Zoo breeding programs that coordinate births across accredited institutions shape which animals families can see locally. Nashville's zoo participates in the national Species Survival Plan, linking its local animal collection to a wider conservation network.
If you plan a visit, check the Nashville Zoo's current hours and animal viewing areas before you go. Families interested in zoo conservation can ask staff about how accredited zoos coordinate breeding programs.
The takeaway
Accredited zoo breeding programs like the Species Survival Plan help sustain animal populations that are rare in the wild. Keep the Nashville Zoo's animal collection in mind when planning a family outing.
Further reading
Explore more about wildlife and the animals cared for at zoos across the region.
