Home ranges of translocated lesser anteaters Tamandua tetradactyla in the cerrado of Brazil

Eight lesser anteaters Tamandua tetradactyla rescued from the rising waters of a dam at Serra da Mesa, Minacu, Goias, Brazil, were tranlocated to othe r areas and tracked using radio telemetry for periods of up to 10 months, f rom December 1996 through February 1998. With the exception of one, or perh aps two, female(s) that left the area while the radio collars were in place , the anteaters stayed within 2.17 km of their release sites and appeared t o thrive. The results suggest that it is feasible to translocate small numb ers of anteaters into new areas of suitable habitats without adverse effect s on resident anteaters.