Nashville Zoo is pleased to announce the arrival of two rarely seen aardwolf pups. The brother-sister pair are 14-weeks old and were born at the Safari Wild Animal Park and Preserve (SWAP&P) in Como, Mississippi. Nashville Zoo is one of just a few zoological institutions caring for this elusive species. The public can view these animals starting at the Zoo’s HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center where they will be raised. The two pups join a growing group of baby animals at the Zoo’s nursery including a newborn spotted fanaloka pup and the recently announced three clouded leopard cubs.
Aardwolves have historically been difficult to breed and raise with only a few existing in the United States. The team at Safari Wild Animal Park and Preserve pulled the pups to be hand-reared after parental predation toward the third pup. Noting the Nashville Zoo’s extensive expertise in raising carnivores, SWAP&P reached out to the Zoo for help. Nashville Zoo has successfully hand reared scores of carnivore species, most notably, clouded leopards, celebrating 45 births in 30 years.
“Being entrusted with these aardwolf pups is both an honor and a responsibility,” said Dr. Heather Schwartz, Director of Animal Health at Nashville Zoo. “Aardwolves are rarely seen in zoos and very little is known about them, so it’s a privilege to provide the specialized care they need. Their presence not only helps secure a future for aardwolves under human care but also allows our guests to connect with a species most have never encountered.”…