They May Look Hairless When They Are Born, But They Are Not
Although newborn aardwolves appear almost naked at first glance, they are actually covered with fine, light-colored fur. This fur reflects light in different ways, camouflaging them among their mother's fur and maintaining their thermal balance.
Their Eyes Are Not Closed, But They Cannot See
Like many nocturnal animals, baby aardwolves are born with their eyes open. However, this does not mean that they can actively see their surroundings. Their vision is very poor in the first few days, and their dependence on their mother involves much more than just sight.
They Cannot Survive Without Their Parents
Aardwolf pups spend the first 6–8 weeks almost entirely in a special den dug by their parents, rarely venturing outside. The father protects the den and the pups while the mother is out searching for food. This level of paternal involvement is surprisingly high compared to other members of the hyaenid family.
Not Just Mother's Milk, But Also Behavior
Baby aardwolves develop not only physically but also behaviorally by imitating their mothers. When they first leave the den, they try to find termite colonies by sniffing, just like their mothers; the first signs of this behavior can be observed as early as two weeks of age.
First Solid Food: Live Termites
At around one month old, the young aardwolves take their first termites into their mouths. But beware: they reject dead termites. This is a rare natural example of a digestive system that only works with moving, living enzymes.
They Don't Chew Termites, They Swallow Them
Aardwolf pups catch termites and swallow them whole. Their teeth are not adapted for chewing but for quickly capturing prey using their tongue. As a result, even their first “solid food” is almost entirely liquid when digested. This is one of the distinctive features that sets them apart from other carnivorous mammals.
On the Day They Start Walking at Night, They Leave Chemical Trails
At three weeks old, baby aardwolves leave the nest for the first time and use their tiny claws to leave pheromone secretions on the ground as they walk. These trails make it easier for their mother to find them later. This behavior shows that their olfactory mapping abilities develop at a very early age.
Sibling Rivalry Is Real
Intense competition begins between baby aardwolves born in the same nest when it comes to finding termites. After the second month, the strongest cub reaches the most termites with the help of its mother. The development of the weaker ones is delayed, and sometimes they are at increased risk of being abandoned.
They Use Their Tails Like Brooms
When they begin to leave the nest, baby aardwolves drag their tails along the ground like brooms to collect scents from their surroundings. This behavior indicates that they are creating a map of their environment using olfactory data and is a very rare strategy.
Every Return to the Nest Is a Silent Ceremony
Every night, after returning from outside, baby aardwolves quietly sneak into the nest and make nose contact with their mother. This contact is not only a sign of affection but also serves as a means of identity verification. A sibling or other animal with a different scent will not be allowed into the nest.
The Art of Silence: They Make Almost No Sound
Baby aardwolves make almost no sound when they are born. This is not only due to physical underdevelopment but also an advanced evolutionary strategy to avoid attracting predators. For the first four weeks, only faint whimpering and snorting can be heard.
They Communicate with Vibrations Instead of Crying
Instead of crying or meowing, they gently vibrate their bodies when they need their mother. The mother senses these micro-vibrations and comes to them. This form of communication is a silent but effective survival tactic.
The Den Protects Them from Smells More Than the Sun
Baby aardwolf nests are often abandoned hedgehog or fox dens. However, these dens are preferred not only for warmth but also because they provide olfactory isolation from the environment. Before giving birth, the aardwolf mother covers the nest with termite soil to humidify the air and block external odors.
No Feces in the Nest
There is never any defecation in the nest where the young are located. The mother and father create small “latrine points” near the nest. This arrangement minimizes the formation of bacteria and parasites in the nest and keeps the young healthy.
Getting Acquainted with the Night: First Hunt in the Moonlight
When a baby aardwolf goes out on its first night hunt, it does not search directly for termite colonies. It first follows its mother's trail, sniffing the surroundings and following the shadows cast by the moonlight. This shadow tracking is considered the moment when the first hunting reflex develops.
Sees in the Dark, Feels
Baby aardwolves “see” at night with their noses, not their eyes. Although their eyes function in low light, their primary navigation system relies on vibration data from their noses and whiskers. This method of orientation also allows them to detect the movements of termites underground.
Saliva That Dissolves Termite Shells
The saliva of aardwolf pups contains special enzymes that can dissolve termite shells over time. These enzymes are an adaptation not seen in other hyaenids and are unique to the aardwolf family. In pups, these enzymes become active from the fifth week onwards.
They Only Eat Certain Types of Termites
Baby aardwolves do not eat termites at random. They only target Trinervitermes species. Other species can cause stomach upset. This selectivity is instinctive and is introduced in the early stages through the saliva of the mother and father.
Aardwolf Babies' Fur Colors Are Variable
Their fur, which is light beige at birth, darkens by the end of the first month and develops stripes. However, each individual's stripe pattern is unique, much like a “natural barcode.” Research has shown that this pattern also aids in mother-offspring recognition.
Small Body Size but Large Head
Weighing an average of 350 grams at birth, baby aardwolves have heads that are quite large in proportion to their bodies. This is due to their developed nose structure and early sense of smell. This ratio balances out during the development process.
Ears that Close in the Dark
When faced with a predator, baby aardwolves can completely close their ears. This muscle-controlled closure not only provides physical protection but also protects the eardrum from sudden loud noises. This reflex is not an innate trait; it develops after the second month.
Evolutionary Remnants: Dog Teeth But No Meat
Although aardwolf pups have canine teeth in their jaw structure, which are a remnant of their carnivorous ancestors, they do not use these teeth. From the third month onwards, these teeth become almost useless. Aardwolves are one of the rare species that carry this evolutionary “tooth heritage” but do not use it.
A Genetic Clock Different from Other Hyaenids
Genetic studies show that aardwolves split from other hyena species 10 million years ago. However, recent research on baby aardwolves has revealed that some genes are still active in both species. This does not completely rule out the possibility of a transition to non-termite diets.
Predators Usually Can't Find Them
Baby aardwolves are classified as low-scented animals, which makes them difficult for predators to detect. This is thanks to a special saliva protein that the mother passes on to her young during their first lick after birth. This makes baby aardwolves “undetectable” to predators.
The Biggest Threat: Snakes
More than predatory mammals, snakes that sneak into aardwolf nests pose a threat to baby aardwolves. African rock pythons, in particular, are one of the few species that can enter the nest. For this reason, some mother aardwolves have been observed carrying thorny plants around their nests.
Contact with Humans: Rarely Seen
Baby aardwolves are almost never seen by humans in the wild and can only be detected through long-term site observations. In fact, in some protected areas, camera traps have failed to capture a single image of a baby aardwolf over a three-year period.
They Rarely Show Their Faces Even in Documentaries
Even in nature documentaries, baby aardwolves are rarely seen. In 2017, BBC Earth was able to capture only 12 seconds of footage of a baby aardwolf after 18 weeks of nighttime filming. This footage remains one of the clearest recordings of a baby aardwolf in the world.
Nest Network Connected by Underground Tunnels
The nests where baby aardwolves live typically have several exits, but these exits are connected to each other by underground micro-tunnels that are 1-2 meters long. These tunnels serve not only as escape routes but also for ventilation. The babies memorize these passages by the third month.
Navigation Learned Through Shadow Tracking
Baby aardwolves do not navigate by smell, but by tracking shadows cast by moonlight throughout the night. Even their mother's tail serves as a directional “signal” for them. This behavior has been observed particularly in South Africa and is referred to as “optical tracking.”
Emotional Bond: Signs of Stress During Separation
Baby aardwolves that are separated from their mothers at an early age experience rapid weight loss, decreased movement, and tongue-sucking behavior (as if they were still at their mother's teat). This shows that they are not only physical but also emotionally bonded creatures.
Rarely Give Birth to Twins
Aardwolf mothers typically give birth to a single offspring. Twin births are extremely rare, and when they occur, one offspring often hinders the development of the other. In such cases, the mother may instinctively abandon the weaker one. This dramatic behavior was first documented in Namibia.
The Longest Known Lifespan of a Baby Aardwolf
While the average lifespan of baby aardwolves in the wild is 6–9 years, an individual born in South Africa lived for 16 years in a protected area. During its lifetime, this animal was observed to adapt to a new termite food source at least three times—a rare example of environmental adaptation.