That is because of the aforementioned reversed-lighting system. The point is that they are a semi-nocturnal species, and as such during the night the lights will be illuminated in the enclosure, and the aardwolves will sleep - as a result, taking them from what their body clocks tell them is night-time to broad daylight outside would risk giving them a rather bad case of jet lag!
That is because of the aforementioned reversed-lighting system. The point is that they are a semi-nocturnal species, and as such during the night the lights will be illuminated in the enclosure, and the aardwolves will sleep - as a result, taking them from what their body clocks tell them is night-time to broad daylight outside would risk giving them a rather bad case of jet lag!
Yeah, I didn't exactly think that through. I forgot that's what the point of the exhibit was. Still I bet they would even be active if they were do be put outside.
I don't think I've seen a picture of them when they're not sleeping in here. Even today, they were first asleep in their log and, the second time I visited the enclosure, they had moved out of the log but were still asleep.
I don't think I've seen a picture of them when they're not sleeping in here. Even today, they were first asleep in their log and, the second time I visited the enclosure, they had moved out of the log but were still asleep.
Yeah, I didn't exactly think that through. I forgot that's what the point of the exhibit was. Still I bet they would even be active if they were do be put outside.
Aardwolves don't do too badly in diurnal enclosures; they will still sleep through quite a lot of the day but sometimes will do so in a readily visible position in their enclosure as I have observed at both Edinburgh and Hamerton in the past.
The trick, of course, is having them in a diurnal enclosure all along.
