Me and My Mom - Scene 53

Aardvark and Cub

The aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. Unlike New World edentates such as the giant anteater, it has a long pig-like snout, which is used to sniff out food. It roams over most of the southern two-thirds of the African continent, avoiding mainly rocky areas. A nocturnal feeder, it subsists on ants and termites, which it will dig out of their hills using its sharp claws and powerful legs. It also digs to create burrows in which to live and rear its young. Aardvarks pair only during the breeding season; after a gestation period of seven months, one cub weighing around 3.7-4.2 lb is born. It is able to leave the burrow to accompany its mother after only two weeks, and is eating termites at 9 weeks and is weaned by 16 weeks.