Chester Zoo, a wildlife park located in the United Kingdom, is celebrating a momentous landmark in its more than 90-year history: the birth of its first aardvark. Named after the Harry Potter character, Dobby, the baby aardvark has already captured the hearts of zoo staff and visitors alike with her long ears, hairless skin, and large claws. Image credit: Chester Zoo
Dave White, Team Manager at Chester Zoo, expressed his joy at the arrival of baby Dobby, stating, “This is a real cause for celebration. 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 cub’s nickname for the time being!” To ensure the safety of the fragile aardvark, White is taking Dobby home in the evenings for supplementary feeding sessions. Image credit: Chester Zoo
Dobby spends most of her day bonding and snuggling with her parents, Oni (8) and Koos (6), and is part of a larger group of 109 aardvarks that can be found in zoos worldwide. Aardvarks are native to Africa, south of the Sahara, and are nocturnal animals known for their unique physical features and their love of termites.
However, the aardvark species is facing challenges due to loss of habitat caused by expanding human populations and agricultural development. This, along with hunting for their meat, has brought them into conflict with humans. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed aardvarks as “least concern,” but acknowledges that their numbers may be declining in certain parts of Africa.
It is for this reason that the conservation of aardvarks is of utmost importance. The birth of Dobby is a step in the right direction and gives hope for the species. Once she grows up, she will join a select group of zoos worldwide that are part of a conservation breeding program. Chester Zoo is proud to be a part of this effort to protect and preserve this amazing species for future generations to enjoy.
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