Pebbles is a female Northern Tamandua, officially known as Tamandua mexicana. This beautiful anteater species has a prehensile tail, four claws and, surprisingly to many, no teeth! Their tongues are covered in sticky mucus that helps them eat insects.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), Pebbles was found roaming around alone in a pasture in Sarapiquí. It was quite an unusual sight, with her being only a little over a month old. Shortly after, her mother’s body was found by a riverside not far from where they found Pebbles. The environmental officials assume that mom passed away because of severe injuries she suffered from a dog attack.

Pebbles was brought to Toucan Rescue Ranch’s Release Site, located in Sarapiqí, Costa Rica. After an initial examination, she spent the night there and was transferred to TRR’s headquarters the next day. Now, she spends most of her time there and is being nurtured to good health. She receives daily training outside in the rehab areas, where she can strengthen her muscles to climb. She just recently learned how to efficiently use her prehensile tail!

Altogether Pebbles is doing extremely well, her instincts helping lead her into the right direction.  Of course, it is no surprise that she loves to munch on ants from her very own termite mound, which was harvested and brought to TRR exclusively for her treats and nutrition. Seeing her development and daily improvements, the medical team has no doubts that she is going to be a perfect candidate for the Release Program. Once she grows into a mature juvenile stage in about 4 to 6 months, she will be ready for her release to where she belongs: back in the wild!

Written by Josephine Repschläger, Marketing Intern