Aardwolf: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wild Hunters · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. This hyena relative hunts termites, not big animals. In one night, a single aardwolf can slurp up as many as 300,000 with its long sticky tongue.
2. It never wrecks a termite mound or eats the whole colony. It remembers where nests are and comes back every few months for more.
3. Slow and not much of a fighter, the aardwolf doubles back on its own tracks to fool a hunter. Cornered, it puffs up its mane to look bigger.
4. Aardwolf dads babysit. A father may watch over the cubs for up to 6 hours a night while the mother is out finding food.
5. Southern aardwolves usually feed at night, but in deep winter they switch to the daytime and hunt a termite that is busy in the afternoon.

The quiz

1. What is the aardwolf's main food?

• Antelopes
• Fish
• Termites (correct)
• Fruit

One aardwolf may eat as many as 300,000 termites in a night.

2. Why does the aardwolf leave termite mounds standing?

• They are too hard for its claws
• So the termites rebuild and it can come back later (correct)
• Because other animals guard them
• Because it is afraid of soldier termites

Leaving the mound intact lets the termites rebuild, giving it food again later.

3. What trick does an aardwolf use to fool a predator?

• It doubles back on its own tracks (correct)
• It climbs a tree
• It changes colour
• It swims across a river

When threatened, it may double back on its tracks to mislead its foe.

4. What does an aardwolf father do while the mother looks for food?

• He digs a new den every night
• He sleeps far away
• He hunts for the whole family
• He watches over the cubs (correct)

A father may guard the cubs for up to 6 hours a night.

5. In winter, why do southern aardwolves sometimes feed by day?

• To avoid the rain
• To follow herds of zebras
• To catch a termite active in the afternoon (correct)
• Because they cannot see at night

They seek out a harvester termite that is active in the afternoon.

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