Chester Zoo Just Welcomed The First Ever Baby Aardvark And The Video Is Adorable

Chester Zoo has had the joy of witnessing the birth of a number of darling baby animals since its 90 year history.

Aardvark At Chester Zoo Gives Birth To Hairless Calf With Giant Claws

The latest addition to the family is a baby aardvark, who was born on Jan. 4 — and the video of its very first step is bound to make you smile.

The calf, weighing 2lbs was born with droopy ears, hairless wrinkled skin and giant claws.

According to the Chester Zoo, the calf nicknamed Dobby, was born overnight to its eight-year-old mother, Oni and father, Koos, six.

The calf is the first to be born at Chester Zoo in the charity's 90 year history.

“This is the very first aardvark to be born at the zoo and so it's a momentous landmark for us and a real cause for celebration. We're overjoyed,” Dave White, team manager at the zoo said in a statement.

“As soon as we spotted the new baby next to mum we noticed its uncanny resemblance to the Harry Potter character, Dobby, and so that's the calf's nickname for the time being.”

“We won't though know for certain whether it's male or female for several more weeks until the calf is a little older.”

“Aardvark parents are notorious for being a little clumsy around their newborns.”

“With the baby being so tiny and fragile, we're therefore protecting it from any accidental knocks and bumps by helping mum out with supplementary feeding sessions throughout the night, just until the calf is a little stronger.”

“So, in the evening, when the parents are out exploring and feeding, we carefully place the calf into a special incubator and take it home to feed with warm milk every few hours.”

“The calf then spends the daytime bonding and snuggled up with mum Oni inside her burrow - and they're both doing great together.”

Aardvarks are native to sub-Saharan Africa. The word aardvark translates to 'earth pig' in the language of Afrikaans.

They are active at night and use their long noses and keen sense of smell to sniff out ants and termites, which they lap up with a 10-inch long tongue covered in sticky saliva.

The animals also use their powerful claws to tear open termite mounds, as well as to dig underground burrows in which they sleep.

They are threatened by habitat loss as a result of agricultural development, which also bring them into conflict with local farmers. They are also hunted for their meat.

There are about 66 aardvarks living in zoos across Europe, and 109 in zoos worldwide.

Watch the adorable video below:

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