Photo: Ken Bohn, June 10,2022, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
On June 14, theSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance(SDZWA) introduced the San Diego Zoo’s “new princess dirt pig,” announcing that the aardvark cub was born May 10 to first-time parents Zola and Azaan.
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PHOTO: Ken Bohn, June 10,2022, San Diego Zoo Wildlife AlliancePHOTO: Ken Bohn, June 10,2022, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
“We are elated to have this little cub in our care,” Cari Inserra, the San Diego Zoo’s lead wildlife care specialist, said in arelease. “She is very active and was using her sharp claws to dig like an adult aardvark, just hours after her birth.”
“Zola is an excellent mother, and nurses her cub frequently. The cub is developing quickly and has tripled her birth weight from just over 4 pounds to over 13 pounds in just five weeks,” Inserra continued. “We can’t wait until we are able to introduce the cub to our Zoo guests, helping them learn more about this remarkable species.”
Native to sub-Saharan Africa, the aardvark is a unique species with a name derived from Afrikaans, meaning “earth pig,” the SDZWA shared.
“Aardvarks are classified as a species of Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, despite the fact the total population of aardvarks is not known as they are rarely seen due to their nocturnal and secretive habits,” the SDZWA said. “They are currently at risk due to human population growth causing loss of habitat and hunting.”
source: people.com
