Jersey Zoo’s aardvarks have left the island after three years and are on their way to a zoo in England.
The nocturnal mammals have been moved to Whipsnade Zoo, in Dunstable, near Luton. Whipsnade is also the home of the macaques which left Jersey in 2023, and was where Gerald Durrell trained between 1945 and 1946.
Jersey Zoo’s first aardvark, Tafari, came to the island in 2022 from Colchester Zoo.
A second aardvark, Nacho – who was born at Whipsnade – joined in him in 2023.
The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust said that Tafari and Nacho will mix with another female aardvark, Dobby, at Whipsnade Zoo in the hopes that they will breed.
Jersey Zoo also confirmed that there are “exciting plans” for the arrival of new species next year. In the meantime, the meerkats will be able to use the aardvarks’ enclosure.