San Diego Zoo welcomes first aardvark birth in almost 40 years

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  For the first time in almost 40 years, an aardvark pup has been born at the San Diego Zoo in California. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance / AP

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  Percy the Porcupine. Reuters

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  A burrowing owl in a cactus habitat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance / AP

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  Otis, a 45-year-old male river hippopotamus at the San Diego Zoo died last year. Nicknamed the 'smiling hippo', Otis had been under care for degenerative joint and spinal disease and a decision to euthanise him was made. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance / AP

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  Gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Reuters

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  Ramil, a male snow leopard at the San Diego Zoo. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance / AP

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  A baby white rhino at the San Diego Zoo. AP

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  Zoo staff have announced that three of its six adult female African elephants are pregnant, including Litsemba and Umgani. San Diego Zoo / Getty Images

The first aardvark cub born at the San Diego Zoo in almost four decades is doing well and developing quickly, wildlife specialists have said.

The female cub was born on May 10 and will nurse from her mother, Zola, for about six months, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said this week in announcing the birth.

“She is very active, and was using her sharp claws to dig like an adult aardvark, just hours after her birth,” lead wildlife care specialist Cari Inserra said.

Animals in unusual places — in pictures

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  A wallaby on Lambay Island in the Irish Sea. The animals were introduced to the island in the 1950s, and more came to the island from Dublin Zoo in the 1980s. Wikimedia Commons

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The long-eared, hairless cub has tripled her birth weight in only five weeks.

She does not have a name yet and will remain out of view of zoo visitors for about two months as she bonds with her mother.

“We can’t wait until we are able to introduce the cub to our zoo guests, helping them learn more about this remarkable species,” Ms Inserra said.

Aardvarks are native to Sub-Saharan Africa. They have strong front legs and long claws adapted to digging burrows, where they spend the daylight hours before coming out in the evening to use their long, sticky tongues to slurp up ants and termites.