The tamanduas of the Toronto Zoo have been named

The new Toronto tamanduas were named as a result of a vote with more than 7,000 respondents.

The couple was named Pacha and Yzma – Pacha for the male and Yzma for the female. According to wildlife conservationist Rebecca Rice, the names come from the 2000s Disney film The Emperor's New Groove.

“If anyone knows a retro Disney movie called The Emperor's New Groove, that's where the titles came from,” Rice told CP24. “So we gave them a little hint of their South American roots, but they fit our new armadillo names, Kuzco and Kronk, so they all have names from the same movie.”

Animal keepers at the Toronto Zoo chose which names will be considered for voting. They came up with five sets of names, many of which pay homage to favorite fictional characters, including Barbie and Ken, Cosmo and Wanda, Bruno and Mirabel, and finally Pacha and Yzma.

“We think they're great names because the public knows them and they're fun to say, especially when we start interacting with the animals later in the summer with guests and kids.”

According to Rice, because tamanduas – also known as lesser anteaters – are from South America, they cannot be displayed outside until the temperature is a constant 15 C and above.

They have sticky tongues that can be up to 40 centimeters (16 to 18 inches) long. They can also eat up to 9,000 ants or termites per day and have claws that can tear through termite mounds, tree branches and trunks.

In late spring and early summer, insects have access to their indoor shelter as well as outdoor space when they choose to go outside.

“The goal is for them to come out of their habitats to meet people, get guests up close and personal, so we're hoping for this summer, but we're always keeping pace with the animals, so whenever they are. comfortable,” Rice said of introducing animals to the public.

For the rest of the winter and into the spring, Rice said, he will work with the Tamanduas as they get used to the new environment, people and climate.

“They're doing really well. We've only had them for two months, so it's not very long,” he said.

With files from CTV's Alex Arsenych