Aardvark

Aardvark

We are delighted that Renate Hendricks has taken over the sponsorship of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer).

As the name might suggest, they are related neither to pigs nor to South American anteaters, with which they bear a certain resemblance. Aardvarks are the only species in the mammalian order Tubulidentata. They can be found in almost all habitats south of the Sahara, although they are rarely observed due to their hidden lifestyle.

The most important tools of an aardvark are its powerful digging claws. They use them to dig an underground tunnel system with a chamber several metres in size, where they also give birth to their offspring. However, the young are not kept underground for long. From the second week of life, they follow their mother on her nightly forays and learn what their strong claws are good for: To break open rock-hard termite mounds from which they can lick the inhabitants out with their long, sticky tongues. Termites and ants are the main food of aardvarks. Thanks to their thick skin, they are completely impervious to the strong bites of the hexapods.

If danger threatens, for example from lions, hyenas or leopards, aardvarks try to flee into the burrow or dig themselves in. If it is too late for this, they stand on their hind legs and tail against the attacker or throw themselves on their back and strike at them with their powerful, sharp claws.