Aardvark Born to First-Time Parents

First-time parents, Zola and Azaan, are pleased to announce the birth of a daughter, yet unnamed. The healthy girl is the first aardvark born in the San Diego Zoo in more than 35 years.

“We are elated to have this little cub in our care,” Cari Inserra, the zoo’s lead wildlife care specialist, said in a statement. “She is very active, and was using her sharp claws to dig like an adult aardvark, just hours after her birth.”

The new arrival was born on May 10, hairless with wrinkly, pink skin and floppy ears. Five weeks on, the cub’s skin has grown smooth, her ears growing tall, her tail strong, and her nose … long. Aardvarks have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell. The growing girl will nurse from mom Zola for about six months and begin hoovering up insects after two or three months. She’ll be fully grown in a year or so and could weigh up to 140 pounds.

The aardvark is native to sub-Saharan Africa, its name derived from Afrikaans, meaning “earth pig.” The mostly nocturnal creatures feed on ants and termites, delivering dinner with their long, sticky tongue. An adult aardvark can suck down 5o,ooo insects in a single evening.

The cub and Zola will bond out of public view for about two months, until mom is ready to show her to the world. Welcome to Earth, unnamed cub.

Ken Bohn / San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance via AP