Chester Zoo welcomes rare aardvark calf named Womble
Zookeepers are looking after the UK's only newborn aardvark with night-time bottle feeds
Chester Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a rare baby aardvark, affectionately known as Womble, following its birth on 3rd April 2026.
The calf is only the second aardvark to be born at the zoo since its opening 94 years ago, prompting intervention from zookeepers who are providing night-time bottle feeds to ensure its healthy development.
Born to mother Oni, who was unable to produce enough milk, the zoo’s team stepped in to support the calf throughout the night while its mother engaged in nocturnal foraging activities.
Sophie Tyson, a zookeeper involved in the care regime, described the significance of the calf's birth:
"Oni's new arrival is only the second aardvark to be born at the zoo in our 94-year history, so it's a really special addition for us all," Tyson said.
"While we don't yet know whether the calf is male or female, as it's a little too young for us to tell, the nickname 'Womble' has definitely stuck. With the calf's giant ears, long snout and playful personality, we think it's the perfect fit for the time being."
Known for their nocturnal nature, aardvarks typically sleep during the day, emerging at night for their activities. The zoo adopted a consistent routine, placing Womble in a cosy incubator each evening where it was bottle-fed warm milk every several hours before reuniting it with Oni each morning.
Tyson expressed delight at Womble's progress:
"Womble has gone from strength to strength and is doing brilliantly, so now lives full-time back with mum Oni - and it's wonderful to see them snuggled up side-by-side together."
Chester Zoo is among a select group of organisations worldwide that care for aardvarks, with only 68 individuals present in European zoos and a total of 114 worldwide.
Aardvarks originate from sub-Saharan Africa, where they face threats such as habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and conflicts with farmers. They are also hunted for their meat. The African term "aardvark" translates to "earth pig" in English, underpinning their adaptive traits suitable for underground living.
The animals utilise their long snouts to detect ants and termites, relying on powerful claws to dig them out. An exceptionally long tongue, stretching up to 25 cm, then efficiently collects the insects.