National Conservation Zoo

Opening times today: 10am - 4pm (Last entry at 3pm)

About

These fantastic creatures are easily recognisable with their long snout and pointy ears. They have short, powerful limbs with shovel-shaped claws, making them excellent diggers. They have a very strong sense of smell and excellent hearing which makes up for their poor eyesight. Aardvarks are colourblind, but their eyes have developed in a way to give them great night vision.

 

Aardvarks are primarily nocturnal, spending most of the day sleeping in their burrow. When they’re awake they’re usually solitary animals, only coming together only to mate. Females will give birth after a gestation period of seven to nine months and for the first two weeks, the young remains in the burrow. It can dig for itself at the age of six months and will reach the size of an adult by twelve months. 

 

Aardvarks play an important role in the ecosystem because their burrows provide shelter for many other animals, from birds to reptiles and even painted dogs. They also have a symbiotic relationship with an underground fruit, which means both species benefit from each other - the plant depends on the aardvark digging up and eating the fruit to disperse its seeds as it can’t disperse them itself! 

Aardvark 4

Aardvark facts

SPECIES
I am a mammal

Aardvarks are nocturnal mammals meaning they are more active at night.

FOUND IN
Africa

A number of regions in Africa, including Botswana, Gambia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

HABITAT
All Savanna types

Grasslands, rainforests, woodlands and thickets in Africa.

DIET
Insectivores

Aardvarks feed on termites and ants. They are able to close their nostrils to stop insects crawling in. Their tough skin also protects them from getting bitten whilst they feed. 

AVERAGE SIZE
40 to 65kg

Their head to body length is around 43 to 53 inches. 

LIFE SPAN
18 to 30 years

Aardvarks typically live for around 23 years in the wild. 

ZOO LOCATION
Heart of Africa

The aardvarks are moving to their new habitat!

Heart of Africa - coming soon

BEHAVIOUR
Solitary & nocturnal

Aardvarks are most active at night and are great at burrowing underground tunnels.

IUCN red list statusLeast Concern
Animal vulnerability index

Threats

Threat Humans
Human intervention
Threat Hunting
Hunting or collection