Two weeks ago we got to see an Aardwolf cub and now we can happily report that she is doing well, gaining weight and on her way to eating insects.
Johannesburg, South Africa (12 November 2020) – The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH) shared the story of their latest wildlife rescue, an orphaned Aardwolf cub about two weeks ago. Since then, the rare little cub has grown and will soon start eating insects.
The Aardwolf (Earth wolf) is a rare sighting for many. Anyone who has seen one in the wild can consider themselves incredibly lucky. Its diet consists of termites which is digs for in the ground and into termite mounds. Because of its very specific diet, the Aardwolf lives only where the termites are. Their special hearing allows them to hear the termites moving in the ground. In an evening, an Aardwolf can eat up to 300,000 termites.
Aardwolves are nocturnal creatures and live mostly alone, they only pair up to mate and raise their young before going their separate ways. They are considered harmless carnivores.
We cannot explain how excited we got seeing the post by the JWVH. It is incredibly sad that the cub was unable to be reunited with its parents but having the chance to see an Aardwolf cub, even just by photos, is a very rare treat. Thankfully the vet is highly specialised in treating indigenous wildlife and have a network of experts to support them through the start of this cub’s life and onwards to its release one day.
When the cub was brought in, she had some mange which the vet started treating. They also put her on a special formula to help her gain weight.
“We introduced you to a little Aardwolf cub (Proteles cristata) two weeks ago. We are still treating her mange, and this will take some time to clear. Since her arrival, she has gained over 600 grams and currently weighs over a kilo.
While she will be introduced to insects soon, she is still on her milk formula, and we would love it if you would consider sponsoring her next meal. Currently, #OneMeal costs R14. Feeding every four hours means that it costs us R84 per day to feed her! As she grows, and she is introduced to insects, the cost of feeding her will increase substantially.”
As we mentioned before, there are several ways to help provide her meals.
You can find several ways to get involved here.
Or you can make a donation via direct deposit. The vet treats indigenous animals free of charge, relying solely on the donations and support of their community.
Johannesburg Wildlife NPC
FNB Cheque account
Account: 62658400264
Branch Code: 255355
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ
Or via SnapScan: https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/PXMP5766
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