A little anteater was captured on Friday morning in the backyard of a house located on Rua José Vieira dos Santos, in the Parque Itália neighborhood of the Nova Veneza district in Sumaré, São Paulo. The animal was contained by local residents using a laundry basket until the fire department arrived for its capture. This incident highlights the unusual presence of the anteater in an area where it is not typically found.

According to the local fire department, the anteater could not be released back into the wild immediately, as it likely did not belong to the region. The Environmental Police were called to take custody of the animal and facilitate its transportation to Lemonde, a nearby city with a treatment center specialized in wildlife rehabilitation. This process is crucial for ensuring the animal's health and safety following its unexpected encounter in an urban backyard.

The appearance of the little anteater in Sumaré raises concerns about wildlife displacement and habitat encroachment. Local officials and conservationists may need to investigate how often wild animals are venturing into urban areas and implement strategies to manage these occurrences to protect both wildlife and residents. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing interactions between wildlife and urban environments in Brazil.