Aardvark

Aardvark facts

• Aardvarks are nocturnal and solitary animals, their name is Afrikaans and means "earth pig". 
• Aardvarks create burrows which are important to other animals in their habitat. In South Africa, 27 other species were recorded using their burrows which help provide many animals protection from the heat and predators.  These burrows are usually around 3 metres long, but sometimes reach up to 13 metres in length. 
• Animals that use their abandoned burrows include African wild dogs, porcupines and hyenas. This makes them ecosystem engineers which support all wildlife living alongside them, especially during wildfires. 
• Aardvarks are more closely related to elephants than anteaters, despite their appearance. 

 Aardvark diet

Aardvarks eat ants and termites, and can eat up to 50,000 insects in a single night. They sniff out with their sensitive noses and dig out with their powerful claws. Aardvarks have a long 30cm tongue which is extra thick, protecting them from insect bites. 

Our aardvarks 

Our aardvark Dobby lives alongside meerkats and porcupines, and the habitat features windows into their snug sleeping areas. You may be lucky enough to even see Dobby sniffing around in the early evening, when she scampers outside to ‘start the day’.  

Aardvark threats 

Aardvarks biggest challenges in the wild are the bush meat trade and habitat loss, which is being exacerbated by climate change.