This is the moment a kung fu anteater adopts a martial arts pose with its arms wide open to defend itself after breaking into a family home and being cornered by a barking dog.
The bizarre encounter took place in Cajati, a town in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on the morning of 30th September.
Video shows the caramel-coloured dog, named Urso, barking furiously and lunging at the wild animal, which raises its forelegs in a defensive stance known for making it appear larger.
The anteater dodges the dog's bites while holding its balance upright, using its long claws to swipe if necessary,
The standoff continued until firefighters arrived to rescue it and released it safely back into the wild.
Dog attacks anteater after having house invaded by the animal in Cajati, SP, Brazil, Sep. 30, 2025. The anteater was rescued. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (Aldo Ferreira Pinto/newsX)
Owner Aldo Ferreira Pinto, 53, said he was working from home when he and his wife heard Urso barking unusually loudly.
Aldo told local media: "We went to see what it was and he was cornering an anteater. He [Urso] was advancing. It was difficult to separate him from the anteater. He is the defender of the house."
He said he used a broomstick to keep Urso away from the animal and managed to lock the dog inside the house before calling the fire department.
A team of three firefighters captured the anteater and released it in a nearby wooded area.
Picture shows the anteater that invaded a house being rescued in Cajati, SP, Brazil, Sep. 30, 2025. A dog attacked the animal. Note: Private photo. (Aldo Ferreira Pinto/newsX)
Veterinarian Danilo Sato Martins, a specialist in wild and exotic animals, confirmed that the species was a lesser anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla), which is common in the region.
He explained that the “open arms” stance is a defensive behaviour intended to deter attackers and that anteaters are strong animals with powerful claws, so the public should never attempt to handle them.
It is not the first time the species' martial arts-style defence has been caught on camera, with one viral clip showing a collared anteater adopting the same pose while fleeing a forest fire in Ceara, and another showing a bad-tempered anteater squaring up to a herd of cows in Uruguay.
(Michael Leidig / newsX)