A new baby arrives at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. The pup can be seen this spring with her mother

Guests at Fresno Chaffee Zoo will see an addition to the anteater exhibit this spring — a female pup named Aji.

On Wednesday, the zoo announced its giant anteater, Chive, had given birth.

The baby is being monitored by the zoo’s animal care team, but will periodically be out on exhibit throughout the spring. She’ll be carried on Chive’s back for several months, by which time Aji will be almost fully grown.

Giant anteaters grow quickly.

The birth is part of plan to ensure genetically diverse and sustainable populations.

According to a statement from the zoo, it works with geneticists and other zoos to determine which anteaters are the best match to breed.

“Chive is an ambassador for giant anteaters in the wild, and a valuable female for the giant anteater population within accredited zoos,” according to a Chaffee Zoo animal manager. “Her parents brought new genetics into the population, and now, through Ají and two previous offspring, she has helped pass these valuable genes on.”

The zoo also contributes to the conservation of giant anteaters through the Fresno Chaffee Zoo Conservation Fund, which supports Anteaters and Highways, which works to reduce the number of giant anteaters killed by motor vehicles in native habitats in Central and South America.

Chive arrived at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in 2013.

This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 3:22 PM.