It's Aardvark Telling Them Apart! Ernesto the Lovelorn Anteater Gets a German Wife Called Erica to Start Family - Only for Zoo to Discover 18 MONTHS Later That Erica Is an Eric

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Byline: Jamie Welham

SOMETIMES it takes a little time to make a relationship work.

At least that's what zookeepers in Hampshire thought as they spent 18 months trying to ignite a little passion between lonely giant anteater Ernesto and Erica, a mate shipped in from Germany especially to keep him company.

Despite their best efforts, however, the pair seemed to experience feelings of naked aggression rather than affection.

But if the keepers were frustrated by their failure, that must have been nothing compared to the frustration being felt by poor Ernesto.

For he was only too well aware of something his human handlers hadn't realised ... …