Dublin Zoo's new armadillo and giant anteaters are here — and there's a brilliant competition for kids too

If you’ve been casting around for something genuinely brilliant to do with the kids over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Dublin Zoo has just handed you the perfect answer — and thrown in a once-in-a-lifetime prize for good measure.

The zoo has announced the arrival of two brand new species: the six-banded armadillo and the giant anteater. These aren’t animals you’d typically encounter on a rainy Saturday in the Phoenix Park, and from the sounds of it, they’re already proving to be quite the characters in their new home.

Meet Ozzy, Milo and Junio

First up is Ozzy, a one-year-old male six-banded armadillo who has moved into Rainforest House alongside the white-faced saki. He arrived from Hagenbeck Zoo in Germany and has reportedly settled in without a fuss — which is more than can be said for most one-year-olds making a big move. Native to South America, the six-banded armadillo is the only living mammal with a proper shell: six moveable bands of bone covered in keratin scales. Your kids will have approximately one million questions. Prepare yourself.

A curious armadillo explores its habitat at Dublin Zoo.

Then there are Milo and Junio — two giant anteaters who arrived together from Allwetter Zoo in Germany. Milo is a ten-year-old female and Junio is an eight-year-old male. Giant anteaters are the largest of their species, weighing in at over 40kg and stretching to more than eight feet in length. They’re also classified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List and are considered the most threatened mammal in Central America, so their presence at Dublin Zoo carries real conservation weight too.

A giant anteater explores its habitat at Dublin Zoo.

Eddie O’Brien, Team Leader at Dublin Zoo, summed it up well: “It’s a really exciting time at Dublin Zoo with the arrival of Ozzy the six-banded armadillo and Milo and Junio, our two giant anteaters. Visitors are going to be enchanted by these wonderfully interesting creatures, and we strongly encourage people to come along to welcome them to their new Dublin Zoo home.”

The Rainforest Ranger competition

Here’s where it gets really exciting for any child who has ever declared they want to work with animals when they grow up — or who spent an entire zoo visit talking to the meerkats. To celebrate the new arrivals, Dublin Zoo is launching a Rainforest Ranger competition, and the prize is genuinely special.

One lucky child will win a behind-the-scenes visit to Rainforest House with the animal care team, getting an exclusive look at how animals like Ozzy, the three-toed sloth, squirrel monkeys and leafcutter ants are looked after day to day. It’s the kind of prize that no amount of money can actually buy, and entry couldn’t be simpler.

To be in with a chance, visit Dublin Zoo over the August Bank Holiday weekend and complete the interactive Rainforest Ranger Trail. Submit your completed trail entry on your way out of the zoo and your child will be entered into the draw. That’s it.

Eddie O’Brien added: “As a keeper for more than 40 years myself, I’ve seen firsthand the tremendous passion children have for the animals here at Dublin Zoo, and I have no doubt that there will be huge interest in the Rainforest Ranger competition. We can’t wait to welcome the winner into Dublin Zoo to get an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes at Rainforest House!”

A full Bank Holiday weekend of activities

Beyond the new animals and the competition, Dublin Zoo is planning a full Rainforest Takeover across the August Bank Holiday weekend. There’ll be a DJ set and themed games on the Great Lawn, rainforest-themed arts and crafts and face painting in the Farmhouse, plus spot prizes and more activities throughout the weekend. All of it is included in the standard admission ticket, so there are no hidden extras to worry about.

Dublin Zoo’s giant anteater explores its naturalistic habitat.

Dublin Zoo is Ireland’s most visited family attraction, drawing over one million visitors each year. As a registered conservation charity, every ticket purchased goes directly back into the care of the animals, their habitats and international conservation programmes. With 30 breeding programmes for endangered species currently running, a day out there really does count for something beyond a good time.

The August Bank Holiday weekend is a brilliant window to go — the kids get to meet Ozzy, Milo and Junio while they’re still the new arrivals on the block, and they could walk away as Dublin Zoo’s very first Rainforest Ranger. For more information and to plan your visit, head to dublinzoo.ie.