Brookfield Zoo heralds birth of aardvark

BROOKFIELD — A Chicago-area zoo has announced its newest addition — an aardvark born Jan. 12.

The Brookfield Zoo, located southwest of the city, says the 13-pound calf is healthy. They're not yet able to tell if it's male or female.

Visitors won't be able to get a close-up look at the critter just yet, as the calf won't be on exhibit for several more months. But zoo patrons can check out the baby aardvark on a live video monitor.

Newborn aardvarks are very fragile for the first few weeks of life, so zoo staff is giving the animal round-the-clock care that includes a neonatal exam, extra hydration and supplemental feeding to keep the calf's weight up.

Since 1992, there have been nine aardvarks born at the zoo.