MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Zoo has welcomed a new member to its family: Grogu the baby aardvark!
Zoo officials said mother Sunshine’s pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound in June, and Grogu was born in the Animals of the Night exhibit before the zoo opened on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. The gestation for aardvarks is about seven months. He was about 3 lbs. 11 oz. when he was born. Grogu’s father is named Boss.
Grogu is being taken care of by the veterinary staff, who said aardvarks can accidentally harm an infant when moving around a larger space. Grogu is fed every three to four hours, 24 hours a day.
Grogu is not currently on exhibit and is staying on an incubator to mimic an aardvark burrow.
From the Memphis Zoo: “Aardvarks are from sub-Saharan Africa and live in burrows that can be up to 20 feet long and have up to 8 entrances. If needed, aardvarks can dig a hole large enough to cover them in about 10 minutes. They are known to eat ants and termites in the wild.”
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