Detroit Zoo says goodbye to its beloved giant anteater
The Detroit Zoo says goodbye to Chesley, the giant anteater who also was the oldest living of her kind in a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
Chesley lived to 26 years of age. She came to the Detroit Zoo in 1997. Her caretaker, Betsie Meister, associate curator of mammals at the zoo, left a message about Chesley on the zoo’s Facebook page.
"Chesley or ‘Mama-Ches’ (as she was affectionately known) was a great companion to several other anteaters, including her daughter, Raya, and Bissell, her great-granddaughter," said Meister.
"She often enjoyed taking naps in the sunshine and tearing apart one of her favorite treats, an avocado, with her front claws. As her species name suggests, Chesley also enjoyed digging up ants and other insects she could find in her outdoor habitat."
The anteater's death comes shortly after the zoo fielded another tragedy -- the presumed death of a baby wallaby.
The wallaby went missing on May 7. It was estimated to be between 5 and 6 months old. Its gender had yet to be determined as it had just started leaving its mother's pouch.
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The new bundle of joy was announced May 7 and was 4-year-old wallaby Sprocket's first joey.
The zoo called off the search a week later for the tiny wallaby, which is believed to have been carried off by a predator.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Zoo anteater passes away at 26 years old
