Extraordinary offspring in the zoo: Aardvark Mbali is still very cuddly

Created: 01/11/2023 10:49 am

By: Michelle Mantey

Aardvark offspring Mbali is born in Frankfurt.

The Frankfurt Zoo is one of the world's most successful breeders of the animal species.  

Frankfurt - Still very exhausted, the little aardvark Mbali lies cuddled up close to his mom.

On December 22nd, Mama Ermine gave birth to the female cub at Frankfurt Zoo.

For Ermine, this is already the sixth birth.

With a total of 35 births, Frankfurt Zoo is one of the world's most successful breeders of these unique mammals.

Aardvark cub at Frankfurt Zoo.

© Frankfurt Zoo

When can visitors to Frankfurt Zoo take a look at the young aardvarks?

It may be a few more weeks before the little animal with the long nose and pointed ears frolics around in Frankfurt Zoo.

Because aardvarks are born in caves and spend their first six weeks there.

The cave in the zoo has been replaced by a box with a built-in camera.

Here little Mbali lies all alone and is only visited by her mother to suckle, reports fnp.de.

A very typical behavior, because aardvarks are basically loners.

So if you want to take a look at the young animal right now, you can follow what is happening in the box on a monitor on the system.

After that, little Mbali can be seen with the other animals in the enclosure of the Grzimekhaus in Frankfurt.

Picture gallery: Hesse's cutest animal babies

View photo gallery

Aardvark offspring a special feature for the Frankfurt Zoo

For almost 100 years, visitors have been able to marvel at the aardvarks in Frankfurt Zoo.

This is a special feature: because the cute little animals are only rarely shown in the zoo due to their nocturnal activity.

Therefore, breeding offspring can make an important contribution to the zoo population of this species, says zoo director Dr.

Christina Geiger.

In a Europe-wide comparison, the Frankfurt Zoo is in second place for the most aardvark births.

In addition to offspring Mbali, the Frankfurt Zoo was also happy to see rare predatory offspring among the Fossas in November last year.

(mm)