Southern aardwolf : Hamerton : 13 Sep 2015 [+ video]

Male Proteles cristatus cristatus, "Bert".

I believe Bert is now the only remaining southern aardwolf in a public collection in Europe, although I believe the Zoo are still trying to source a female for him.

Indeed, at the current time, I believe Hamerton are the only public holders of aardwolf (of either subspecies) in the UK.

I've posted a short video of Bert on YouTube, showing him moving around the enclosure, and with some shots of his enclosure companions, the swamp cavies.

Video: Southern aardwolf "Bert"; swamp cavies : Hamerton : 13 Sep 2015

The only captive Southern Aardwolf outside the native range, in point of fact - I do not know enough about the possibility of individuals in small zoos and rescue centres within Africa to make a blanket statement about his being the only one in captivity full-stop.

Nice shot! Easy to see this time? What time was Bert active?

zootiger said:

Nice shot! Easy to see this time? What time was Bert active?

Click to expand...

Thanks zootiger! I didn't see him out earlier in the day, but once the bulk of the Sunday visitors had left mid-afternoon, he could be seen out near to his shed. I checked the time of the video shots, and they were around 4:15pm. Also note that, when I shot the video, a keeper was doing the feeding rounds at the marmosets building behind me; which probably meant that he (Bert) was more active than usual (he was fed by her - indoors - shortly afterwards).

He definitely doesn't like loud children though, often scuttling back indoors if any appeared nearby. Later, once they'd all left, he came and laid at the front of the enclosure, and, with care, it was possible to approach and sit within a few feet of him.

Bert has never liked alot of noise so the less people about the better your chances of seeing him,also the warmer the day the better as well as he likes to sun himself in the last of the suns rays,sometimes if you are very lucky and speak very nicely to the keeper,doing the evening feeding run they will sometimes get him out if you haven't seen him during the day!