Cuteness overload! Baby tamandua takes first steps in Washington zoo

Cuteness overload! Baby tamandua takes first steps in Washington zoo weeks after keepers nursed her back to health from respiratory disease

  • Baby tamandua, named Liana, was born with a respiratory illness on April 23 
  • Nursed back to health by veterinarians at the Point Defiance Zoo in Washington
  • Visitors will have to wait a little longer to see her at the site, zookeepers said  

This is the moment an adorable baby tamandua takes its first steps at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, weeks after zookeepers nursed her back to health from a respiratory disease.

Footage shows the pup, named Liana, crawling and sticking her giant tongue out.

It comes after she was nursed back to health by veterinarians who discovered she suffered from a respiratory disease that saw her rapidly lose weight

This is the moment an adorable baby tamandua takes its first steps at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington

It comes weeks after zookeepers nursed the pup, named Liana, back to health from a respiratory disease.

It comes weeks after zookeepers nursed the pup, named Liana, back to health from a respiratory disease.

Officials said the baby tamandua, born on April 23, had doubled in size over the past few weeks and now weighed 1.8 pounds. 

She managed to start gaining weight again after zookeepers fed her supplemental feed and administered a course of antibiotics.  

But, zookeepers said she would not be seen in public anytime soon as she is still being nursed by her mother.

They added Liana would appear alongside Terra and father Gonzo when she was strong and confident enough to do so. 

Liana was nursed back to health by veterinarians who discovered she suffered from a respiratory disease that saw her rapidly lose weight

Liana was nursed back to health by veterinarians who discovered she suffered from a respiratory disease that saw her rapidly lose weight

Officials said the baby tamandua, born on April 23, had doubled in size over the past few weeks and now weighed 1.8 pounds

Officials said the baby tamandua, born on April 23, had doubled in size over the past few weeks and now weighed 1.8 pounds

She is expected to be nursed for at least five or six months but will begin trying solid food including insects and fruit, from two to three months.  

Footage shows veterinarians closely monitoring mother Terra during her pregnancy to ensure baby Liana’s safe delivery.

In order to keep Terra still, her handlers fed her whip cream from a tray while performing ultrasound tests.

Liana is expected to be nursed for at least five or six months but will begin trying solid food including insects and fruit, from two to three months

Liana is expected to be nursed for at least five or six months but will begin trying solid food including insects and fruit, from two to three months

The pup was named Liana after a woody climbing plant that hangs from trees - fitting because tamanduas are excellent climbers

The pup was named Liana after a woody climbing plant that hangs from trees – fitting because tamanduas are excellent climbers

The pup was named Liana after a woody climbing plant that hangs from trees – fitting because tamanduas are excellent climbers. 

Terra’s last pup, named Chiquita and born in August 2018, lived with her parents until late last year, when she was moved to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington DC.

Tamanduas are a type of anteater indigenous to South and Central America with tongues that can grow up to 16 inches long.