Southern Tamandua

To capture high-quality footage of a Southern Tamandua, location is everything. Since they are semi-arboreal, you should look for 'wildlife highways'—sloping logs or low-hanging branches that bridge gaps between trees. Setting your camera about 2 to 3 feet off the ground along a well-used trail or at the base of a large, hollow tree is ideal. If you can locate an active termite mound or a dead log riddled with ant galleries, focus your lens there; tamanduas revisit these food sources frequently, though they never stay long.

Because tamanduas are primarily active at night, ensure your camera has a high-quality infrared flash that won't overexpose the subject at close range. Their golden fur can reflect a lot of light, so if your camera allows for adjustable flash intensity, set it to 'medium.' A fast trigger speed (under 0.5 seconds) is essential because while they look slow, their movements when tearing into a nest can be surprisingly rapid and jerky, which can lead to motion blur in slower cameras.

For the most engaging shots, aim for a side-profile or a slightly low angle. This helps highlight their distinctive 'vest' and the impressive length of their snout. If you are placing a camera in a backyard or garden, avoid using artificial lures or scents; tamanduas rely on their incredible sense of smell to find prey, and human-introduced scents can sometimes spook them. Instead, focus on preserving natural features like rotting wood or undisturbed leaf litter, which naturally attracts the insects they crave.

Seasonal timing isn't a major factor, but humidity often increases their activity. After a light rain, ants and termites are often more active near the surface of their nests, making it the perfect time for a tamandua to come out and forage. Check your camera cards more frequently during the wet season, as the increased insect activity often translates to more frequent visits from these 'collared' anteaters.