Giant anteater euthanized at SB Zoo

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Zoo officials humanely euthanized “Sophie,” a giant anteater that lived at the Santa Barbara Zoo for the past 20 years, after his arthritis took a turn for the worse last week.
Misidentified as a female at birth, Sophie was born at the Jackson Zoo in Mississippi before coming to Santa Barbara in December 1986. He was the oldest captive-born male at the time of his death.

“Sophie is an animal who has connected with millions of people who have seen him over the years,” Alan Varsik, the zoo’s director of animal programs and conservation, said in a prepared statement. “A giant anteater is a very unusual-looking animal, with that long nose and bushy tail, and brings out curiosity in people.”
He said an initial necropsy revealed severe arthritis, which likely resulted in a significant decline in Sophie’s mobility and comfort in recent weeks.
“It took a significant shift in the last couple of days,” Varsik said. “The welfare of our animals is our primary concern here at the zoo and we made the humane decision.”
In addition to being one of the oldest anteaters in recorded history — a wild-caught anteater may be older, according to records kept by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums — Sophie also is one of the most fatherly of giant anteaters in North American zoos, having sired 10 offspring.
Seven of his descendents are still living, including a male born in September 2004 and a female born in May 2006, both to his most recent mate Madeline, who remains at the zoo.
The oldest female anteater on record also called Santa Barbara home, living to be 31 years old before she died in 2002. Known as “Grandma,” she gave birth to 15 of the 25 total anteaters born at the Santa Barbara Zoo since 1975, aiding its reputation as a leader in the study and breeding of giant anteaters.
“We’re considered one of the world’s premier giant anteater breeding programs,” said Dean Noble, the zoo’s director of marketing.
Native to South America, anteaters are typically three to four feet long, weigh up to 100 pounds, and use their 18- to 24-inch tongue to eat ants, termites and soft grubs. Their sense of smell is 40 times more powerful than a human’s.
In addition to the death of Sophie, the zoo has lost “Kali,” an African lioness who died at age 22, and Gemina, the crooked-necked giraffe who died at age 21, in recent months. Noble said zoo officials are still researching the possibility of bringing more giant anteaters to the zoo.
“Due to the recent passing of Sophie, there are no immediate plans to bring more giant anteaters to the Santa Barbara Zoo,” he said, “but with its award-winning breeding program it’s not unlikely.”