Chester Zoo has welcomed the birth of a rare aardvark calf, named Womble, who is said to be 'doing brilliantly' after receiving round-the-clock bottle-feeding from dedicated keepers.
A Historic Birth
Womble is only the second aardvark to be born at Chester Zoo in its 94-year history. The nocturnal animal, named after the characters from Elisabeth Beresford's children's books and the subsequent animated TV series, spent its first weeks in a heated incubator, being fed warm milk every few hours by keeper Sophie Tyson while its mother, Oni, foraged for food.
Challenges in Captivity
Births of aardvarks are extremely rare in captivity, with the last calf born at the zoo in 2022. Keepers suspected Oni was pregnant after noticing weight changes, and an ultrasound confirmed she was further along than expected. Although the calf was healthy at birth, Oni was not producing enough milk, prompting staff to step in with intensive care.
Tyson, who has worked with aardvarks for three and a half years, described the experience as 'a big learning curve' and 'a great opportunity.' She said: 'It was really exciting, and really tiring. You'd get an hour's sleep in between feeds, and then you were back up again feeding.'
Growth and Development
Now seven weeks old, Womble weighs about 7kg, up from 1.4kg at birth. The calf is becoming increasingly curious and active, following its mother, bumbling around, and exploring the outside world. The sex of the calf remains unknown, as the genitalia of young aardvarks are difficult to distinguish so soon after birth.
A Rare Species
Aardvarks are nocturnal mammals native to sub-Saharan Africa, spending most of the day underground and emerging at night to feed on ants and termites. They use their claws, long snout, and sticky tongue—which can measure up to 25cm—to dig into soil. Despite a similar appearance to anteaters and armadillos, they are not closely related.
According to Chester Zoo, there are only 68 aardvarks in European zoos and 114 worldwide, with Womble believed to be the only calf born in the UK since 2024. Conservationists say aardvarks face increasing threats in the wild due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and hunting for their meat.
Tyson added: 'Womble has gone from strength to strength and is doing brilliantly, so now lives full-time with mum Oni, and it's wonderful to see them snuggled up side by side together.'
