Colchester: Zoo Welcomes New Arrival
Colchester Zoo
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1. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo
At a month old, Colchester Zoo's latest baby Aardvark is now on view to visitors having been moved into one of the main burrows at the Aardvark enclosure with its mum.
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2. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo
Aardvark mum Oq gave birth to her 7th baby at around 11.30am on the 20th March bringing the total to 8 births for the group.
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3. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo
The Zoo says the baby is doing really well and growing fast and in another few weeks will be introduced to the rest of the Aardvark group which continues to be one of the most successful breeding groups in Europe.
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4. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo
Sarah Forsyth, one of Colchester Zoo's curators, said, "Oq and baby have been housed in the birthing burrow whilst the baby grew stronger and has received round the clock attention from the keepers.
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5. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo
"As soon as the youngster is strong enough the group will be mixed but aardvarks are notoriously clumsy and the little one needs to be able to withstand any bumps from the rest of the group first," Sarah continues.
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6. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo
Aardvarks are native to Southern Egypt and South Africa living mainly in the sub-Saharan areas. Their habitat is generally grasslands and open woodland and their diet consists of ants, termites, fruit and other insects. According to the IUCN Red List aardvarks current status in the wild is vulnerable due to changes in land use and intensive crop farming.
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7. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo
Colchester Zoo is still the only zoo in the UK to successfully breed this species.
