A New Way of Using Inexpensive Large-Scale Assembled GPS to Monitor Giant Anteaters in Short Time Intervals

Collars using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to calculate and store positions have become more frequently used in ecological studies, but it is still a costly method. We present a new way of using an inexpensive large-scale assembled GPS radiocollar to monitor giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) over short time intervals. The total cost of our unit, including the GPS and a VHF transmitter, was about US $490. We tested the adapted unit on a free-ranging giant anteater in the Pantanal of Brazil. The GPS unit stored 1,373 locations that allowed us to monitor movement and activity for 214.7 hours.