An aardvark calf named Womble, born at Chester zoo, is thriving after receiving intensive bottle-feeding from dedicated keepers. The newborn is only the second aardvark born at the zoo in its 94-year history, as births of this species in captivity remain extremely rare.
Round-the-Clock Care
For several weeks, keeper Sophie Tyson fed Womble warm milk every few hours while the mother, Oni, left the den to forage. The calf was placed in a heated incubator and carefully returned to its mother each morning. The 13-year-old Oni was not producing enough milk, prompting staff to step in with continuous care.
Tyson described the first weeks as intense, with feeds required every two hours around the clock. '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,' she said. Although Tyson had worked with aardvarks for three and a half years, this was her first time caring for a calf, calling it 'a big learning curve but a great opportunity.'
Rare Birth in Captivity
Named after the characters from Elisabeth Beresford's children's books and the animated TV series, Womble is only the second aardvark born at Chester zoo. The first calf arrived unexpectedly in 2022. According to the zoo, there are just 68 aardvarks in European zoos and 114 worldwide, with Womble believed to be the only calf born in the UK since 2024.
The sex of the calf remains unknown, as young aardvarks' genitalia are difficult to distinguish shortly after birth.
Natural History and Conservation
Aardvarks are nocturnal mammals native to sub-Saharan Africa. They spend most of the day underground and emerge at night to feed on ants and termites, using their claws, long snout, and sticky tongue—which can measure up to 25 cm. Their name means 'earth pig' in Afrikaans. Despite resembling anteaters and armadillos, they are not closely related.
Conservationists note that aardvarks face increasing threats in the wild due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and hunting for meat in some regions.
Thriving Calf
Now seven weeks old, Womble weighs about 7 kg, up from 1.4 kg at birth. Tyson said the calf is becoming increasingly curious and active, 'following its mother, bumbling around and exploring the outside world.' She 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.'
The parents had been housed together for a long time without breeding, but in 2022 the first calf was a surprise. This time, the couple had become 'more romantic,' according to Tyson.
