Dudley Zoo's first ever giant anteater Czechs into new home

For all the species that the zoo has on offer, 11-month-old Romy is the first giant anteater in its 79-year history.

And Romy has wasted no time in roaming - she has been out and about exploring her new surroundings.

The anteater has joined from the Olomuc Zoo in the Czech Republic.

Curator Richard Brown, said: "We're very excited to have Romy here.

"We've wanted anteaters for a long time and as a lot of visitors mistake our Brazilian tapirs for anteaters, they can actually see them now too and notice the differences.

"And as we approach the zoo's 80th anniversary next year, it's great to still be bringing in new animals and be involved in even more conservation programmes."

Romy took her first steps out into her new paddock, located opposite the barbary sheep, on Thursday morning, which staff have been busy preparing for the last few weeks.

A distinctive solitary species, found in the tropical forests and grasslands of Central and South America, anteaters have no teeth and use their long tongues, which can project more than two feet, to eat up to 35,000 ants and termites a day in the wild.

However, Dudley's ant population is safe as captive anteaters eat a gruel supplement mixture packed full of meat, maize, fish oil and vitamins and minerals, which the zoo has had to order in specially for Romy to enjoy.

Mr Brown said: "Romy has joined us as part of a European Studbook programme and we're hoping a suitable male will join her in the future."