Meet Our Roly-Poly and Prickly Lesser Tenrec Babies

What’s your favorite fact about lesser tenrecs?  

 Tenrecs may look like hedgehogs, but the two species are not closely related. Surprisingly, tenrecs are more closely related to elephants than they are to hedgehogs!  

How are the babies doing?  

We do daily checks on our tenrec family, and we’re happy to share that all five babies are developing normally and appear to be healthy. Although they were born on exhibit, Bun and her babies spent much of their time bonding in a nestbox for the first couple of weeks. Now, they have opened their eyes and are starting to venture into their exhibit.  

How big are tenrecs when they’re born? 

At birth, tenrecs are about the size of a peanut shell (1.5 to 2 inches long) and weigh as much as two nickels (about 10 grams). Now that they are a month old, they weigh between 42 and 55 grams—so, they have quadrupled in size! They still have quite a bit of growing to do, since their parents tip the scales at about 150 grams—the same weight as a baseball.  

Do tenrecs have spiky hair when they’re born?  

Tenrecs are born with very short, soft spines that harden minutes after being exposed to the air. At first, they look like little bumps on their skin. Within a day or two, their spines poke out. They use this prickly armor for defense. When threatened, tenrecs roll into a ball to protect their soft bellies, which are covered in short, fine hairs.  

Are the babies male or female?  

It’s too soon to tell. Males and females look anatomically similar when they’re born, so it can be tricky to tell them apart! We hope to learn if we have males, females or a combination during their first veterinary exam, which will happen in a couple months. In the meantime, we’ve put a dab of non-toxic, water-based paint on their backs to help us tell the babies apart and track each individual’s growth.  

What do you enjoy most about working with tenrecs?  

 Tenrecs are fun to enrich. We especially enjoy watching them take a dust bath! Tenrecs roll around in the dust and use their paws to rub it into their spines—a natural behavior called scent anointing. In the wild, tenrecs can use these scents as camouflage and parasite repellent. 

What are mom and dad’s personalities like?  

Bun, who is 7 years old, is feisty and food-motivated. She enjoys exploring new enrichment items in her enclosure, especially puzzle feeder toys and anything she can burrow into or under. We often give her a tiny Kong toy stuffed with hardboiled egg and a small ball with mealworms inside. These toys give Bun a chance to use her problem-solving skills and get some exercise while she’s foraging.  

Six-year-old Luke is very charming and easy going. One of the things we love about Luke is how he sleeps in very creative positions! Usually, tenrecs sleep out of sight, tucked under a log or hide provided by keepers. Luke, however, often sleeps out in the open. He pushes himself against the glass so that his stomach and face are pressed up against the side. Sometimes, he sleeps upside-down or half smushed against the glass and half hidden in his bed.  

How are they adjusting to parenthood?   

This is the first litter for both Luke and Bun. Because tenrec fathers have no role in raising offspring, we removed Luke from the exhibit. Currently, he is housed behind the scenes at the Small Mammal House.  

Bun has been very attentive to the babies and routinely nurses and grooms them. She spends most of her time in the nest box with them. However, she does eagerly come out to get food, which gives us a chance to peek at the babies.   

Bun is very tolerant of keepers being near the babies and shows no sign of aggression or protectiveness over them. Recently, the babies began exploring outside the nest box. Bun watches but lets them explore on their own. 

What’s the next big milestone for the babies?  

The babies have already started weaning and are showing interest in solid foods. We have seen them sample the mealworms, crickets and insectivore diet (kibble) that Bun receives. As they grow, they will eat all these foods, plus hardboiled egg.   

Got any tips for spotting them?

Tenrecs are nocturnal, so they tend to be most active at feeding times. Generally, we feed them just before the building opens at 9 a.m. and in the early afternoon. If you come to the Zoo early in the morning, make Small Mammal House one of your first stops, and you might get lucky and see Bun and her babies! They are especially active before 10 a.m. and after 1:30 p.m.   

Visitors can learn more about small mammals at our keeper talks, which take place at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. 

I want to help tenrecs! What can I do?  

Lesser tenrecs are native to Madagascar, where they live in dry forests, coastal regions, scrub and semi-desert areas. Tenrecs typically seek shelter in tree cavities, and logging activity has reduced their populations.  

Although lesser tenrecs are not considered endangered or threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, these animals could still use our help! When you shop for furniture, décor and other products made of wood, check that they are sustainable and don’t contribute to deforestation before you buy.   

And spread the word! Share your excitement about Bun, Luke and their babies with your family and friends. The more people learn about tenrecs, the more they develop an appreciation for this amazing species. By sharing their story, you can inspire others to make lifestyle changes that can help protect tenrecs and their habitat.  

Meet Luke, Bun and their babies at the Small Mammal House! Plan your next visit to the Zoo here. Want to learn more about how keepers use enrichment to help our animals stay physically active and mentally sharp? Don’t miss keeper Ann Gutowski’s How to Care For Small Mammals blog.