'It's A Girl': UK Zoo Welcomes Dobby, Its First Aardvark Calf Born In 90 Years. See Photos
The aardvark calf was born on January 4, 2022, but the Chester Zoo in Cheshire declared its gender only last week.
New Delhi: For the first time in its 90-year history, a zoo in Cheshire, United Kingdom, witnessed the birth of an aardvark calf this January. The Chester Zoo tweeted that it’s “a girl”, and that they are "over the moon".
The zoo staff have named the aardvark Dobby as the calf’s wrinkled, hairless skin and dangling ears seemed to remind them of the Harry Potter character by that name.
The animal was born on January 4, 2022, but the zoo declared its gender only last week.
“We’re over the moon to reveal that our new aardvark calf Dobby is a baby girl,” Chester zoo tweeted.
…IT’S A GIRL 😍♥️
— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) February 18, 2022
We’re over the moon to reveal that our new aardvark calf Dobby is a baby girl 🥰🙌#chesterzoo #wildlife #conservation #aardvark pic.twitter.com/DxIFfmbcPi
Experts at the zoo are currently hand-rearing Dobby. The mother aardvarks are “notorious for being a little clumsy around their newborns”, the zoo said on its website. To protect the calf from any accidental harm, the zoo is supporting her with “supplementary feeding sessions throughout the night, just until the calf is a little stronger”.
At the zoo, Dobby is in the company of her mom Oni (8) and dad Koos (6).
“This is the very first aardvark to be born at the zoo and so it’s a momentous landmark for us and a real cause for celebration. We’re overjoyed. As soon as we spotted the new baby next to mum we noticed its uncanny resemblance to the Harry Potter character, Dobby, and so that’s the calf’s nickname for the time being!” Dave White, team manager at the zoo was quoted as saying on the website.
In an Instagram post, the zoo said: "Dobby is fed with warm milk every few hours through the night, before going back to the zoo to bond with mum Oni through the day."
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
There is, meanwhile, a lot of enthusiasm over the birth of the aardvark calf. Going by the reaction of Twitter, the zoo may see a stream of visitors lining up to catch a glimpse of Dobby.
“Can’t wait to visit Dobby soon,” a user tweeted.
“Well we think she's beautiful,” posted another.
Well we think she's beautiful 😍 https://t.co/gqW4N8Zkua
— Clangers (@helloclangers) February 19, 2022
In love with Dobby… https://t.co/xP226tzJ0A
— GemmaSherlock (@GemmaSherlock2) February 19, 2022
OMG this beautiful Aardvark was just on the One Show 😍 we're in love. We met her Mum in 2020. #Chesterzoo is epic #dobbytheaardvark https://t.co/E10Yk4lPS6
— Esther J (@Est1980her) February 18, 2022
Can’t wait to visit Dobby soon 🥺 https://t.co/kNAbVe8dga
— ✨ Ashley & Emily ✨ (@TravellingMagic) February 18, 2022
Missed opportunity. Should have called it Eunice! #StormEunice https://t.co/CFiHfFduz2
— Andy Watt (@Andy_Watt) February 18, 2022
Who Are Aardvarks?
Rarely seen in zoos, aardvarks are native to sub-Saharan Africa. According to the Chester Zoo website, zoos across Europe have only 66 aardvarks. Their population in the wild is declining due to encroachment of their habitats by humans. They are also hunted for their meat.
According to the zoo, the word aardvark translates to “earth pig” in the African language. These are nocturnal animals "who use their long noses and keen sense of smell to sniff out ants and termites". They have a long tongue measuring up to 25cm, covered in sticky saliva. Aardvarks also have powerful claws that they use to tear open termite mounds, or dig underground burrows to sleep in.
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