Two giant anteaters and an armadillo arrive at Dublin Zoo

Dublin Zoo has welcomed two new species, giant anteaters Junio and Milo, and Ozzy the six-banded armadillo.

Ten-year-old female giant anteater Milo and eight-year-old male Junio both recently arrived from Allwetter Zoo in Germany.

The largest of the anteater species, giant anteaters can weigh more than 40kg and grow to more than 8ft long.

The IUCN Red List classifies this species as “vulnerable” and Junio and Milo have come to Dublin Zoo as a breeding pair.

Ozzy, the one-year-old male six-banded armadillo, is another new addition to Dublin Zoo from Hagenbeck Zoo in Germany.

Native to South America, the species gets its name from the six moveable bands of armour that are formed from plates of bone covered in keratin scales.

The armadillo is listed as a “least concern” species on the IUCN Red List, but six-banded armadillos do encounter threats from hunters in the wild.

Team Leader at Dublin Zoo Eddie O’Brien said in his 40 years as a keeper, he has never worked with an armadillo and “it’s fantastic for us to be working with this new species”.

Watch our video to meet Junio, Milo and Ozzy.