San Diego Zoo Celebrates First Aardvark Birth
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park announced the arrival of its first aardvark calf, which is healthy and bonding well with its mother.
According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the baby was born in July to first-time mother Padmae and father Azaan.
Wildlife care specialists describe Padmae as intuitive, nurturing, and patient. She frequently nurses and grooms her calf. Both mother and calf are currently bonding in the privacy of their burrow, away from public view.
Typically, mother aardvarks raise their young until they are around six months old and can forage independently. Aardvarks are native to sub-Saharan Africa.
These nocturnal animals possess long, sticky tongues, which they use to consume ants and termites. An adult aardvark can consume up to 50,000 insects in one evening, showcasing their unique feeding habits.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance notes that aardvarks are classified as a species of Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. However, they face risks in the wild due to hunting and habitat loss.