ZooBorns

Baby Armadillo the Size of a Tennis Ball

Look what just rolled into Busch Gardens Tampa - a tiny Three Banded Armadillo born to proud armadillo parents Zowie and Ollie. Born June 21, the baby was the size of a golf ball, now a month later he has grown to be the size of a tennis ball. When full grown adult Three Banded Armadillo’s are roughly the size of a softball. The youngster can be seen in Jambo Junction. 

Below: Baby and mom, Zowie, enjoy some outdoor romping in the grass. 

Some fun armadillo facts courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa.

• The gestation period for a Three Banded Armadillo is just 120 days!

• The young will nurse for about 72 days before being weaned.

• Baby armadillos are born blind but quickly develop the ability to walk and close their shell.

• After 72 days baby armadillos are no longer dependent on mom and will go out on their own.

Check This Out Gridiron Fans!

This video shot at Cincinnati Zoo was just too zany for ZooBorns to pass up! Enjoy!

 

Screaming Hairy Armadillo Babies!

The Cincinnati Zoo recently welcomed three Screaming Hairy Armadillo babies, which will eventually join the Zoo's outreach program to teach school children about animals and conservation. As their name implies, the Screaming Hairy Armadillo squeals when threatened, perhaps by a hungry jaguar. Native to Arengtina, Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay this species ranges from deserts to grasslands and escapes the heat of the summer day deep within a burrow. 

Photo and video credits: Cincinnati Zoo

Naked Into the World: Armadillo or Pink Golf Ball?

A few months back we brought you Amani the newborn aardvark and today we have another brand spanking new addition to the Midwest zoo family - a 3-banded armadillo. No bigger than a golf ball, this pink little bundle of balled up joy weighs just 4.5 ounces (130 grams). The little guy will be off exhibit until this summer but we promise to bring you any future photos the Minnesota Zoo can share.

Baby Boom at the Virginia Zoo!

The Zoo’s male eastern bongo fathered a calf, the first of his offspring since he arrived at the Virginia Zoo last year.  The female baby, named Eva, was born the morning of September 23.

The Zoo also is proud to announce the hatching of two eastern box turtles on September 24.

The  Zoo’s six-banded armadillos, Bobby and June Bug, are the parents of two male armadillo  pups born on July 24.