Overview
- The zoo confirmed a female aardvark was born on September 30 and is gaining about 150 to 200 grams per day.
- The youngster spends its first weeks in a rear Wurfbox, with mother Ermine returning only to nurse, so visitors must wait to see it.
- The mother is 17-year-old Ermine and this is her eighth offspring; the father is Irmo, born in 2002.
- Frankfurt reports 37 aardvark births over six decades, including a 1962 world first, with Burgers’ Zoo coordinating the European studbook.
- Zoo leaders say the birth strengthens managed populations and supports research on this little-studied nocturnal species, which is displayed at only a few German zoos.