Aardvarks take up residence at Whipsnade Zoo
Nacho and Tafari move to Bedfordshire from Jersey
Two aardvarks are settling in well at their new home - say keepers at Bedfordshire's Whipsnade zoo.
The move of Nacho and Tafari from Jersey Zoo was carefully coordinated to support the conservation breeding programme according to bosses.
The nocturnal animals have an indoor sleeping area and dirt mounds to burrow in, in their new habitat at the UK's biggest zoo.
Jonathan Risbridger, senior zookeeper at Whipsnade Zoo, said, "Nacho and Tafari are a great addition to our family, or armoury, of aardvarks here at Whipsnade Zoo. Nacho is actually returning to Whipsnade, as she was one the first ever aardvarks to live at our zoo".
"She’s very confident and has made herself right at home again. Tafari is bigger and more muscular, and can also be recognised by his darker-coloured legs – he looks a bit like he’s wearing a pair of trousers!"
"Visitors will most likely spot the long-snouted twosome snoozing away in a heap under a heat lamp in their cosy den, but they might see them sniffing around their habitat in the late afternoon - which is the start of a typical aardvark's day."
The zoo's existing aardvark Dooby is being relocated as part of her own breeding programme.