Although it may look like a simple moment of enjoyment, the bath taken by the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a behavior documented in wild individuals. Field studies have observed this species entering water bodies and rolling in the mud, and it has been proposed that this may help them cool down or get rid of external parasites.
The giant anteater can reach nearly two meters from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail. Its diet is highly specialized: it consumes thousands of ants and termites per day thanks to a tongue that can extend 35 to 40 centimeters, coated with a sticky substance that allows it to capture large quantities of insects.
However, this impressive species faces an uncertain future. Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, the Winku Tara has disappeared from much of Central America, and Honduras represents the northern limit of its distribution. Its presence in the forests of La Moskitia—such as recent camera-trap records—offers a positive sign despite ongoing threats.
On November 19, World Anteater Day, 80 Miskitu children from the municipality of Wampusirpi celebrated the “oso caballo” or Winku Tara through an educational day that combined nature, culture, and games.
Through bilingual activities, drawings, stories, and group discussions, the children learned about the natural history of the Winku Tara and shared the knowledge they already hold about the wildlife of their territory. For many, it was not only about learning about a species but recognizing their own relationship with the forest that surrounds them.
The celebration emerged as an extension of ongoing monitoring efforts: bringing camera-trap images back to the communities that share territory with the species.
“Winku tara nani ba sin, unta tara nani nitsa iwaia dukiara.” The oso caballo depends on the forest to survive.
The activities were led by WCS Honduras, with the support of WCS Guatemala, the IUCN Xenarthrans Specialist Group (SSG), and the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF).