Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom welcomed a baby aardvark named Womble last month [1].
The birth of the rare mammal is a significant event for the institution, as it marks only the second time an aardvark has been born at the facility [1]. Such occurrences are uncommon in captive environments, making the calf's health a priority for the staff.
Reports on the birth surfaced on May 20, 2026 [3]. The arrival comes during a period of long-term operation for the zoo, which has a history spanning 94 years [1].
Zookeepers have stepped in to provide critical care for the newborn. The mother aardvark stopped producing enough milk to sustain the calf, necessitating a manual intervention [1], [5]. To ensure the animal's survival, staff members are now bottle-feeding Womble [1], [2].
Hand-rearing animals of this species requires precise nutritional management, and constant monitoring. The team at Chester Zoo is managing the feeding schedule to mimic natural growth patterns while the calf remains under veterinary supervision [2], [4].
“Chester Zoo welcomed the second aardvark ever born at the zoo”
The successful birth and subsequent hand-rearing of an aardvark highlight the complexities of managing rare species in captivity. Because these animals are not frequently bred in zoos, the intervention by keepers to provide supplemental feeding is a critical step in ensuring the survival of a genetically valuable individual within the global conservation network.
