PORTLAND, Ore. - A male, three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) is now in the care of the Oregon Zoo after being rescued by a woman who purchased the small-armored animal from a pet shop after witnessing its abuse by other customers.

When the armadillo lived at the pet shop, he could be taken out of his enclosure at any time and allowed to roam freely, according to Tony Vecchio, zoo director.

"On two or three occasions the woman saw kids chase and startle him into a ball," says Vecchio. "The diet he was fed almost killed him. He went into hypoglycemic shock from eating the recommended diet for a long period of time, and the woman had to call 20 different vets to find someone willing to see him," he added.

The woman purchased the young armadillo after making sure that the pet store would not bring in a replacement armadillo. The armadillo was wild caught and imported by an unknown dealer. According to the woman, the store was unable to receive any more armadillos because of a change in export laws in South America.

"Kind-hearted people often rescue animals from bad situations, but they may not think ahead about the animals that come after," says Vecchio. "This armadillo is very lucky because we normally can't take exotic pets. We just don't have the space."

Vecchio urges the public to reconsider their pet choices when thinking about buying an exotic animal.

"Exotic species require regular veterinary care, similar to domestic species," says Vecchio. "But specialized veterinary care can be even more expensive and difficult to find."

Vecchio added that exotic pets can threaten human health as well as indigenous ecosystems. Some animals harbor dangerous diseases that humans can contract. Armadillos, for example, if not properly quarantined, can transmit plague, tuberculosis and leprosy. If released into the wild, exotic pets can wreak havoc on local plants and animals. Lastly, exotics can sometimes turn on their owners or others, causing serious injury or death.

"Buying an exotic pet-whether it's a baby lion or a hairless rat-may seem like a fun idea," says Vecchio. "But exotics animals are often difficult to care for, even by the most dedicated and well-meaning pet owner. I can't tell you how many frantic calls we receive, asking for us to take their exotic pet because they can no longer provide proper care."

According to Jan Mothershed, zoo registrar, many exotics require a permit or license from city, county, state, or federal agencies. These permits are in place to protect the public, the environment, and to help enforce humane standards for the housing and care of exotic animals that do not fit into pet situations.

"Many exotics live sad lives," says Mothershed. "They get passed from one owner to another as people realize they cannot care for the pet, and local zoos don't have the resources or space to take them. Still others are abused or suffer severe health problems as a result of lack of knowledge on the part of their owners. People should think long and hard before going down the exotic pet path."

The armadillo will be in quarantine until November 9. Upon completion of quarantine, he will join the zoo's educational animals where he will visit schools, community and senior centers, serving as an ambassador for his species. As part of the zoo's education animal program, staff will tell his story and highlight the inappropriateness of having armadillos or other exotic animals as pets.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus #63 to the Oregon Zoo. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive 50 cents off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.50 (12-64), seniors $8 (65+), children $6.50 (3-11), and infants two and under are free. A parking fee of $1 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling (503) 226-1561.

Armadillo Facts:

The three-banded armadillo is the only armadillo species that can roll itself into a nearly perfect ball when threatened. In this sphere-like position, it is protected from an attack by most enemies. However, it is believed that large predators like the jaguar may be able to crack its strong shell.

Each armadillo's head plate is unique to the individual, similar to fingerprints in people. The three-banded armadillo is dark brown and armored with a leathery shell that usually has three bands. They can be found in open grassy areas, open forests, marshes, farmlands, and sometimes urban areas in north central Argentina, east central Bolivia and sections of Brazil and Paraguay.

Usually solitary, the three-banded armadillos will occasionally come together during cold weather and breeding season. The armadillo's shell is a good insulator, reducing heat loss, so they can remain active during extremely cold weather. They do not dig burrows of their own but use burrows abandoned by other animals, or they make their dens under dense vegetation. They feed on ants and termites by digging into insect colonies and bark with their strong front claws. The middle three toes on the back feet are grown together and have a thick claw. The front toes are separated and have four claws.

Three-banded armadillos are born blind and are about the size of a golf ball at birth. They quickly develop the ability to close their shells and walk. After 72 days they no longer depend on their mother. At nine to 12 months of age, they reach sexual maturity. November through January are when most young are born, but births have been reported throughout the year. When full grown they weigh approximately three pounds.