Chester Zoo in the UK reports the birth of a rare aardvark calf named “Womble.” Multiple outlets say the newborn is being closely cared for by keepers, including hand or bottle feeding, in the period immediately after birth. Euronews and The Guardian describe the calf as spending its early weeks in an incubator and receiving milk feeds, with care continuing through the night to support its health.
The zoo says the birth is only the second aardvark calf in its 94-year history. Keepers and the outlets also emphasize that aardvarks are extremely rare to breed in captivity. According to the reporting, the previous aardvark calf at Chester Zoo was born in 2022.
The Guardian notes that the calf’s name comes from the aardvark character “Womble” in Elisabeth Beresford’s children’s books and related animated television adaptation. The zoo describes the calf’s condition as positive, with keepers saying it is “doing brilliantly.”
