skip to navigation

    Heart Essex

    On Air Now

    Heart's Feel Good Weekend with Katrina Ridley 1am - 6am

    Heart's Feel Good Weekend with Katrina Ridley

    Now Playing

    Unbreak My Heart Toni Braxton

    Unbreak My Heart artwork
    • Last Played Songs
    • Schedule
    Listen
    • Home
    • Radio
    • Showbiz
    • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Win
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Find your Heart station
    • Events
    • Bingo
    • Charity
    • Topics
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Heart on Twitter
      Follow Heart on Facebook
      Follow Heart on Instagram
      Follow Heart on Youtube

    News

    • News Home
    • Traffic & Travel
    • UK & World
    • Quirky
    • Weather
    • Science & Nature
    • School Closures
    • More Heart

    Colchester: Zoo Welcomes New Arrival

    Colchester Zoo

    1. Colchester Zoo

      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.

    2. Colchester Zoo

      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.

    3. Colchester Zoo

      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.

    4. Colchester Zoo

      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.

    5. Colchester Zoo

      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.

    6. Colchester Zoo

      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.

    7. Colchester Zoo

      7. Baby aardvark at Colchester Zoo

      Colchester Zoo is still the only zoo in the UK to successfully breed this species.

    Back to top

    Also on Heart

    • Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Amanda
    • Heart 70s
    • Heart 80s
    • Heart 90s
    • Heart Dance
    • Fashion
    • Wellness
    • Parenting
    • Beauty
    • Food & Health
    • Married at First Sight
    • Good Morning Britain
    • This Morning
    • TV & Movies
    • Heart bingo

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Public File
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Heart on Twitter
    Follow Heart on Facebook
    Follow Heart on Instagram
    Follow Heart on Youtube
    © Global 2021
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager